Jonathan Alan S., a Northern Irishman, was provisionally released on €100,000 bail in late 2024. He is accused of shooting and killing his companion and compatriot John George Hardy in a lemon grove in Rojales, where the body was discovered in January 2025. The release lasted just under four months. The magistrate in Torrevieja who presided over the case on Friday, April 10th, revoked the suspect’s release and ordered his provisional imprisonment. She determined that he had violated the precautionary measures she had established for his release in December, including the prohibition against communicating “directly or indirectly” with any of the parties involved in the proceedings, including the victim’s family.
In particular, he is accused of requesting a friend request on Facebook from the sister of the victim of this crime, which the magistrate believes is an act of harassment against John George’s family.
In a hearing convened by the magistrate of Plaza 2 of the Instruction Section of the Court of First Instance of Torrevieja last Friday, the Prosecutor’s Office and the private prosecution requested Jonathan’s imprisonment. Francisco Miguel Galiana Botella, Jonathan’s defence lawyer, opposed the revocation of his freedom and also requested a reduction in the Bail of 100,000 euros.
Jonathan Alan S. was already incarcerated at the Villena penitentiary, where he was apprehended in Portugal and transferred to Spain last year, when the magistrate issued a two-day deadline for him to voluntarily enter prison. He arrived at the facility on Sunday afternoon.
Social media videos
The judge’s decision was predicated on numerous instances of conduct that the accused was alleged to have engaged in following his parole. The ruling specifically mentions videos that the defendant purportedly posted on social media platforms, in which he makes menacing statements, directly addresses the victim’s family, and exhibits a defiant stance toward the legal proceedings.
Jonathan, the individual accused of John George’s murder, is depicted in one of the videos. He asserts that he has lived “like a true king in every Spanish prison I have been in,” defends his innocence, and, in reference to John George’s family, states that “you won’t catch me, and if you think you’re going to catch me, you’d better be well armed.” This is the extent of his statement.
Jonathan sent a friend request to John George’s younger sister on Facebook on February 5th. The magistrate has determined that this action is not a mere algorithmic coincidence, but rather intentional harassment directed at the victim’s family.
According to the judge, these actions disclose “contempt for the administration of justice” and the court rulings that were issued in the case. Consequently, she has resolved to reverse the decision that permitted him to be released from incarceration and to compel his return to a penitentiary.
The National Police in Alicante apprehended Jonathan Alan S. and his wife in March of last year. He was initially under investigation for drug trafficking; however, he was ultimately charged with unlawful possession of firearms after the police confiscated a pistol, a disassembled revolver, and a sawed-off shotgun. The couple was released by the Alicante duty magistrate, despite the weapons seizure.
A Czech citizen was also the subject of an investigation in the John George homicide case. A bullet struck him in the cranium on March 1st in Torrevieja. Several days later, the Civil Guard apprehended a 40-year-old British citizen at Corvera Airport in Murcia as the suspected perpetrator of the murder of an individual implicated in the crime. The individual’s testimony connected Jonathan to the murder.
