The woman who stands accused of a murder in Almuñécar on the 26th of April, 2014 will face trial on Monday the 20th in the Granada provincial law courts.
The incident, which rocked Almuñécar just over two years ago, saw the death of Jesus M.C. as he slept in a drugged stupor whilst his flat burned, allegedly set alight by the accused.
María Victoria M.G. (39) admitted in her original declaration before the Guardia Civil that she had set light to a cloth on the sofa (which led to the fire) but claimed that she had made this confession because she had been “psychological mistreated” by the police officers: they allegedly told her that her son would “go to prison for the murder” if she didn’t admit to it.
The Public Prosecutor is recommending 26 years, 11 months imprisonment for two counts of robbery and one of murder. However, the private prosecution lawyer representing the deceased’s family is recommending 57-years for murder, arson, two robberies, threatening behaviour and bodily harm.
The defence lawyer recommends acquittal.
Also standing accused in the affair are four other people, accused of violent robbery and attempted violent robbery (depending on the individual accused), failing to provide assistance, for which they face prison sentences of between five years and six years, 11 months, as well as a fine for one of them amounting to 4,320 euros.
The four persons are: Juan F.R.P. (24) and his girlfriend, Carolina F.P. (20) – neither have criminal records. Also the partner of Maria Victoria, José N.P. (30) and her son, Juan M.R.M. (25) who does have a criminal record.
Maria Victoria explained that she always enjoyed a good relation with the victim, apart from “the occasional squabble.” She admits that during the early hours of the 25th of April, 2014 they did steal their supposed friend’s credit card and bank book. They tried to obtain money through a cash machine with them but to no avail.
The following day they all drank well into the night with the unsuspecting victim and that it was her nephew who had the idea of slipping a drug into his drink (Trankimazin) so that they could steal his large TV in order obtain money by selling it. “He said that I had to help him, so I did.” They put three tablets into the victim’s beer and when he became drowsy, they took him home.
Once there they continued drinking until Jesús M.C. lost consciousness, which was when they took the TV off the wall and the three men took it to her house where the nephew’s girlfriend was waiting to receive it.
Maria Victoria was the last to leave but denies that she set light to the sofa on which he had passed out through a desire for revenge – the victim had been sentenced to 2.5-year prison sentence for setting fire to her flat ten years previously.
She also admitted that she could see smoke coming out of the victim’s flat from her own home but didn’t find out about his death until the next morning.
All of the above article, including the woman’s statements, should be taken as ‘allegedly.’
Lastly, as the case is somewhat convoluted, readers can read further by consulting our previous articles on the case: Curiosity and Anger, and Almuñécar Fire Death No Accident.
(News: Almunecar, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)
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