A trial at a Guadalajara Provincial Law Courts saw a 15-year prison sentence handed down to a man who killed a thief he caught breaking into his car.

The man, who was found guilty by a jury (many cases in Spain are tried by a tribunal of judges) also has to pay 40,000 euros in compensation to the victim’s two brothers.

The attack took place on the 15th of June last yeaar in the Alamín area of the municipality of Guadalajara (Castilla La Mancha). The 42-year-old Rumanian man was trying to smash the side window when a group of residents began to raise the alarm. Moments later the 34-yeaar-old car owner appeared and stabbed the theif in the back, cutting through his righthand lung, causing his death.

The whole incident had been recorded by a witness on his mobile phone, who then uploaded it onto social media.

The attacker then ran off but was later arrested by officers belonging to the Policía Nacional after he gave himself up.

During his trial his defence lawyer argued that the prosecution had based its accusation solely on the content of the phone video and recommended a sentence of manslaughter owing to his client having consumed alcohol and drugs.

The public prosecutor, on the other hand, recommended a 25-year jail sentence for murder. As stated above, the judge reduced the sentence recommended down to 15 years two weeks after the jury had handed over a guilty verdict.

(News: Guadalajara, Castilla La mancha)

Keywords: Car Thief, Rumanian, Stabbed, Car Owner, Found guilty, Murder, Jury

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