A court in Barcelona has sentenced a man to 17 years in prison for pouring gasoline over his landlord and the landlord’s partner and setting them on fire on December 14, 2020, in their apartment. The ruling, which was accessed by Europa Press, found that the defendant acted with the intent to kill or, at the very least, disregarded the significant likelihood of causing death to his neighbors.
In the early morning hours, the accused filled a canister with gasoline and doused both victims before igniting the flames with a lighter. At the time of this brutal act, he knew his actions could also harm his own niece, who was close by and could not escape without passing through the inferno.
The niece suffered burns covering 10% of her body, which rendered her incapacitated for 24 days, during which she required a wheelchair. She has since been left with visible scars on her legs and forearm.
The landlord sustained burns to 30% of his body, primarily affecting his lower limbs and genital area. He required surgery for grafts and must now wear a special suit for severe burns, which he must replace annually. He also faces ongoing medical evaluations and suffers from depression and post-traumatic stress.
The landlord’s partner was burned on 16% of her body, necessitating surgery and a 39-day hospital stay. She is now dealing with both psychological and physical repercussions, particularly evident in her legs and neck, where scars have caused a retraction of her chin.
The court did not accept claims made by the victims during the trial that the accused instructed them on what to tell the police, stating, “It was the ‘donkey’ that exploded. If not, you won’t tell it”—in reference to the electric device used to start the fire—which they believed was a cover-up for his actions.
Initially, the prosecution sought a prison term of 25 years for two counts of attempted homicide, along with charges of assault and threats. The private prosecution, represented by lawyer Mónica Aguilar and Jaume Agustí from the Lealta Advocats firm, called for an even harsher sentence of over 30 years, claiming attempted murder and seeking €130,000 in damages for the couple.
However, the court determined that attempted murder charges were not substantiated. The man received a seven-year sentence for each of the two attempted homicide convictions, in addition to three years for the assault on his niece.
For each attempted homicide charge, he was placed under supervised release for five years longer than his prison sentence and prohibited from contacting or approaching the victims within 200 meters for six years following his release.
Moreover, he is ordered to compensate the victims a total of €136,853 for the injuries and lasting effects of the attack. The ruling is not yet final and can be appealed by the involved parties.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/espana/agencias/2024/07/26/condenan-a-17-anos-al-acusado-de-echar-gasolina-y-quemar-a-sus-vecinos-en-barcelona-en-2020/
