There is news from the Valencian Court today about the extended imprisonment of Jorge Ignacio Palma Jacome. He has been sentenced to 159 years and 11 months in prison for the completed murders of Arliene Ramos, Lady Marcela Vargas, and Marta Calvo, with a temporary prison status now in place as the case moves through the system. The decision arrived just one day after the hearing, placing Palma in provisional custody while he awaits ongoing criminal proceedings as a convicted defendant rather than merely a person awaiting trial.
The oral hearing spanned from 13 June to 8 July. Since the verdict was issued on September 1, Palma’s status changed from defendant awaiting trial to a convicted person under sentence, affecting his rights and status within the judicial process.
A further portion of the ruling was issued quickly, within 24 hours, extending the period of pre-trial detention. The amount of time granted, 13 years, stands out as unusually high in similar cases, reflecting the severity of the crimes and the length of the sentence imposed, which approaches the century-and-a-half mark when combined with related offenses.
Sentencing pending appeal before TSJ
The decision remains subject to appeal. Palma’s defense argues violations of the right to presumption of innocence and challenges three separate charges tied to the deaths. The defense has approached the TSJ to seek further scrutiny of the sentence, including a possible permanent detention. The presiding judge, who also served on the jury and participated in the selection process, approved the extension of provisional detention during this phase of the appeal process.
As reported by Levante-EMV, the hearing took place at 10:00 on Thursday, 6 October, with the Prensa Ibérica group noting the serial killer’s transfer to Albocàsser prison in Castelló earlier in the week. The report also described Palma dressed in his customary jeans and plaid shirt, entering Room 23 of the City of Justice in Valencia at the scheduled time. He did not speak during the proceedings and did not offer clarifications when asked if he wished to comment or consult his lawyer. The defense has argued for release, contending that the current extension of precautionary detention should not anticipate the final sentence’s execution.
Just a formality
Observers described the hearing as a procedural formality, given that Palma is already in custody. In the prior December, while awaiting trial, the provisional imprisonment had been extended as his first two years in prison drew to a close. Under criminal procedure rules, an additional two years can be added, with the possibility of further extensions if justice cannot proceed within that time frame and the extensions are properly justified.
Thus, Valencia Investigation Judge 20 set a final deadline and extended the makeshift detention for another two years, keeping the case within a framework that would later be reviewed by higher courts. The transition from a person awaiting trial to a convicted individual required repeating certain procedural steps to reach the same stage of the process again. The total coverage period could reach 13 years if the Valencian high court’s decision stands and faces further appeal to the TSJ and eventually the Supreme Court. The 159 years and 11 months imposed for the murders and related offenses reflect the gravity of the acts, including assaults involving high-purity substances administered to victims with the aim of ending their lives. These elements form a central part of the charges pursued in Palma’s case, documented through the ongoing legal process and appeals, as reported by the local press and court records, with ongoing review by the appeals courts and the Supreme Court.