The fourth section of the Provincial Court of Pontevedra sentenced a man to 16 years and 10 months in prison for habitual violence, continuous sexual assault and several crimes of injury to his partner.
The events occurred during approximately a year of relationship between the accused and the victim, between the end of 2018 and the end of 2019, The sentence says the situation worsened when the two men began living together four months after the court began.
The magistrates consider several episodes of physical and sexual assault to be proven, and emphasize that the accused maintained an “extremely jealous and aggressive” attitude with the woman, overriding her will and exerting excessive physical force to impose himself, creating an environment of “fear and submission.”
In the writing they describe violent episodes with beatings, stabbing, forced sex, punching and kicking, grabbing her hair to drag her to the ground and even an incident in which the accused sprayed water in the victim’s face with an insecticide spray, among others. Some of these attacks took place in the presence of 6 year old girl of the woman.
The Court expresses its “firm conviction” as to the credibility of the victim’s account, which was “solid and credible” at the trial; while the accused’s version is qualified in the sentence of “implausible”, with “blatant contradictions and a lack of justification”. In fact, say the judges, the accused went so far as to deny the romantic relationship, even if he later admitted it, and “radically” denied the facts, going so far as to declare that it was she who “had shouted and threatened”. because she was “jealous and controlling”.
In its decision, the provincial court acquits the accused of a crime of minor threats regarding a WhatsApp message the accused sent to the victim, who was only able to provide a “screenshot” as paternity had not been proven.
The magistrates consider the accused as the author of a crime of habitual abuse, six offenses of minor injury in the area of violence against women, and a continuing crime of sexual assault. In all cases, the mitigating circumstance of excessive delay applies and, in cases of sexual assault, the aggravating circumstance of kinship applies.
For all this, the court sentences him to sentences totaling 16 years and 10 months in prison, to which are added an additional 16 years and 9 months of prohibition on possession of weapons. Likewise, he establishes the restraining order and prohibition on communicating with the victim for periods totaling 18 years; and the measure of supervised release for 8 years (after release from prison).
Finally, ask him compensate to the woman 5,500 euros for injuries and emotional and psychological damage; and to Sergas 525.21 euros for the medical assistance provided to the victim.
