The suspect, who was arrested at the scene of the recent fire in a palm-tree plantation in Motril, has been acquitted.

The local law court acquitted the man, who was actually found inside the plantation with matches and a cigarette lighter on him, because the judge considered that it could not be proven without doubt that he was indeed the culprit; i.e. in dubio pro reo.

The fact that he was within the plantation with the place alight and that he had matches and a lighter but no cigarettes, is not enough because nobody had actually seen him physically setting light to the vegetation.

The Public Prosecutor had recommended 11 months imprisonment to be served in a psychiatric institution. He also recommended that he pay 225,000 euros in compensation to the property owner.

The incident dates back to the 6th of May at 21.30h in a plantation near the Rambla de las Brujas when the spectacular fire broke out, visible all around.

(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)