A couple have appeared before a popular jury at the Alicante Provincial Court this week, accused of killing and dismembering the owner of the property where the woman lived. The prosecution alleges that the crime was committed to allow the pair to keep using the property and to claim the deceased man’s pension. The trial, conducted under the jury court procedure, commenced on Monday, 9th June .
According to the indictment, the property is located in the Virgen del Carmen neighbourhood of Alicante. The prosecution maintains that the man and woman ended the homeowner’s life to continue living there and to benefit from his monthly income.
Following the alleged fatal assault, the public prosecutor claims that both individuals dismembered the victim’s body and set it on fire. According to their version of events, this was an attempt to eliminate evidence and prevent a police investigation into the case.
The public prosecution is seeking 17 years in prison for each defendant as the alleged perpetrators of a crime of homicide. The fiscal report also highlights the gravity of the subsequent treatment of the corpse to erase any trace of the crime.
Defence Version
The defence, led by lawyers Miguel Ángel Cánovas and Miguel Ángel Garijo, completely rejects the prosecution’s theory. The lawyers assert that the man was not murdered, but rather died from a possible heart attack.
According to this version, the two defendants decided to get rid of the body to avoid legal problems. They feared being blamed for not noticing the death until some time later, and that this could generate criminal or administrative liability.
The events date back to June 2024, when the first remains of the body were found abandoned in a rural area of Alicante. This discovery triggered the police investigation and allowed for a partial reconstruction of what had occurred.
The prosecution explains that the police identified the deceased through fingerprints. Following this identification, officers focused their inquiries on the victim’s inner circle until they located the two suspects.
According to the public prosecutor, the woman lived with the owner after establishing a friendship with him and dedicating herself to his care. Her romantic partner also frequently visited the home and maintained regular contact with both of them.
Final Phases of the Trial
The statements of the two defendants are scheduled today, Friday 12th June, after they requested to testify at the end of the oral hearing. Their testimony will conclude the presentation of evidence before the jury.
On the same day, the parties are expected to deliver their concluding reports. In these documents, the prosecution and the defence will detail their requested sentences and their assessment of the evidence presented.
Next Monday has been set for the delivery of the object of the verdict to the jury. In this document, the presiding magistrate will formulate the questions that the members of the popular tribunal must answer during their deliberations.
The eight experts who testified yesterday Thursday ratified their forensic reports on the victim’s remains. Their conclusions are vital to determining what happened before and after the death.
The specialists pointed out that it has not been possible to establish the specific cause of death due to the condition of the body. The corpse was charred, which hindered a detailed analysis of potential internal injuries.
The experts also indicated that no clear evidence of signs of violence was found. Similarly, they stated that they did not detect traces of substances that could have caused the death.
However, the forensic scientists concluded that the dismemberment of the body took place after the man had died. This point has been established as one of the few scientific certainties within a case filled with numerous question marks.
