On Sunday night, February 5, this year, Ángel Rodríguez da Costa killed his ex-wife, Beatriz Lijó Gesteira, in front of their two children from a marriage already fractured in Baiona. Although he initially remained silent, he eventually confessed. He disposed of the evidence by throwing an ax into a mountain and leaving a kitchen knife as a potential clue to justify his next escape. When the body was discovered nearby, forensic teams began a detailed investigation three months after the incident. Violence Against Women Court Vigo has progressed to an advanced stage. Relatives and friends of the victim, security personnel who assisted in the case, and both local and national police who participated in the investigation have testified in court. A recent reference day introduced a new element: a woman appeared alongside a police officer and a psychologist, prior to the crime, when the defendant’s conduct led a Family Court to suspend custody arrangements regarding the minors. The defendant was present at the office during this development.
In the private sector, the accused worked as a mathematics teacher and had just one interview with the psychologist involved. Since his arrest, he remains in pre-trial detention awaiting trial. Legal sources described the psychologist’s account of the interview as unusual for the professional. The defendant expressed to the psychologist that he felt surrounded by enemies, including his students who allegedly harassed him verbally, his defense lawyers, and judges. The psychologist described these remarks as indicating a potential mental disorder, specifically suggesting paranoia, and recommended psychiatric care or medication. The defendant flatly refused both therapy and any prescribed treatment.
The narrative contrasts with the assessment from psychiatrists who treated Ángel Rodríguez in the 1940s at Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital in Vigo. After his arrest, that team found no signs of mental illness and discharged him, as documented in their records. The defense attorney explained that a psychologist recently offered to file a civil action against the client, but the psychologist acknowledged to the lawyer that he refused to assess these claims through the family’s lens, stating that the defendant did not want to be evaluated or labeled as crazy.
in Ourense
Also yesterday, the national police in Ourense stated that Ángel Rodríguez has not yet testified in court to describe the moment of surrender at the police station in the city of As Burgas. Three other officers who were present that morning testified earlier. The murder suspect left his children with their father, took his mobile phone and the crime ax, drove to the police station, parked in front of it with some difficulty, entered the building, sat on the floor, and removed his shoes. He did not speak a word. Although the man remained silent, he left his car keys in a box at the entrance, and officers quickly recognized his identity, understanding that he was the fugitive sought after in connection with the killing of his ex-wife the night before.
With a confession on record and a growing mountain of evidence pointing directly to him, the legal process is not left to chance. The main weapon, the ax, was reportedly thrown into a mountain in the Tomiño region, though the precise location was not specified. The judge ultimately decided not to pursue a search for a gun.