The Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife has sentenced a man to 37 years and six months in prison for murdering his partner’s brother, attempting to murder her and making two serious threats.
The sentence, dated 26th October, gives legal effect to a jury’s unanimous guilty verdict. The case concerns an attack in Fonsalía, in the south of the island, in the early hours of 27th November 2022. The defence has announced that it will appeal to the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands.
The court found that the man and the woman had been in a relationship for about two years. Jurors heard evidence of a pattern of jealousy and controlling behaviour, including restrictions on her movements and threats made in the days before the attack.
The woman had taken refuge with her brother in the garage where he was living. At around 3.00am, the court found, the man entered through a window and attacked them while they were asleep. The brother escaped outside, where he was fatally stabbed. The woman survived but suffered injuries and lasting psychological harm.
The sentence comprises 20 years for murder, 14 years for attempted murder and two terms of one year and nine months for the threats. The attempted-murder sentence includes aggravating factors relating to gender and the relationship between the defendant and the survivor. The court also applied an aggravating factor for a previous conviction for threats.
The jury rejected the defence’s arguments that the killing was not murder and that the defendant’s mental state meant he should not be held responsible. The judge said the evidence did not support those claims.
The ruling sets a maximum of 30 years for the prison term to be served effectively. It also prevents consideration for progression to a more open prison regime until at least half of the sentences have been served. After prison, the man will face ten years of supervised release and a restriction preventing him from approaching or contacting the survivor.
The court also ordered €150,000 to be paid to the victim’s sisters. The survivor is to receive €45,000: €20,000 for her physical injuries and €25,000 for psychological harm.
The sentence is not final if an appeal is lodged. The defence has announced its intention to challenge the ruling.
