Two young individuals accused of a reported homophobic assault in San Vicente del Raspeig during 2021 are set to stand trial at the Alicante Provincial Court. They face hate crime charges and injuries against women, an indictment that highlights the role of prejudice in the alleged events. One of the defendants faced reprimand over their sexual orientation, and a special prosecutor is involved, requesting prison terms for both university students on the charges described. The prosecutor seeks sentences of four years and six months for one defendant and five years and six months for the other, with parallel counts tied to the same offenses.
Beyond the prison terms, the defendants face seven years of restraint, a fine of 1,440 euros, and a total compensation obligation of 6,200 euros to address injuries and their consequences, including psychological support where applicable. These terms reflect the gravity attributed to the acts and the impact on the victims.
According to the charging documents presented by the prosecutor and the victim’s counsel, the incidents occurred around 3:00 a.m. on June 24, 2021, near the university campus in San Vicente del Raspeig. After attending Eid celebrations with another group, the two defendants were riding a motorcycle when they first encountered a group of roughly fifteen university students on Aeroplano Avenue. When asked for a cigarette, the group refused and the situation deteriorated as verbal abuse began. The defendants allegedly insulted a bisexual student and attacked his dignity and sexual orientation, using slurs such as the terms cited in the charge. They left the scene but not before the tension escalated into a confrontation that would be cited in the subsequent proceedings.
About half an hour later, the same pair of defendants encountered the same group again on Alicante Street. The two victims and a young woman were present, and when tobacco was again refused, the defendants renewed their belittling remarks and slurs. The alleged behavior included public homophobic expressions and attempts to demean the victims based on sexual orientation, as noted in the formal accusations. The prosecutor and the special prosecutor indicated that at least one witness identified the two defendants as the same individuals from the prior encounter by noting the motorcycle and the familiar insult exposure as proof of continuity in the behavior.
surprise attack
The two defendants then dismounted and approached the group with an aggressive display of homophobic and discriminatory sentiments. They launched a sudden assault, the charges asserting that the motive stemmed from the explicit sexual orientation of the bisexual student rather than any other provocation. The assault was carried out while both attackers wore full-face motorcycle helmets, a detail emphasized in the case documentation. One of the defendants directed a severe insult at the bisexual student while striking him with the helmet, resulting in a minor skull injury.
In the subsequent strike, the other defendant delivered a powerful helmet blow to the second university student, causing him to collapse, lose consciousness, and suffer dental injuries. The attackers fled after the incident, but the first victim managed to recover the moped registration number and other identifying details that linked the perpetrators to the crime as described in the complaint.
These events are documented in the charging documents submitted to the court, with the aim of establishing the sequence of actions, the use of helmets during the assault, and the alleged motive tied to contempt for the victims’ sexual identities. The case reflects the seriousness with which hate crime allegations are treated and the emphasis on protecting individuals from violence rooted in discrimination. The procedural record remains open for further examination as the trial proceeds, with both sides presenting their case and the court assessing the evidence and testimonies available to determine verdict and penalties as appropriate. [Citation: Prosecutor’s Office filings and victim counsel statements]