Man Sentenced to 11 Years for Attempted Murder of Bar Owner in Santiago del Teide; Appeal Rejected
A man's 11-year prison sentence for attempted murder of a bar owner in Santiago del Teide has been upheld by the Canary Islands' Superior Court of Justice after he attacked her from behind with a knife following an argument over a drink.
A man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for trying to murder a bar owner in Santiago del Teide. The Canary Islands' Superior Court of Justice has rejected his appeal, upholding the original sentence.
The attack happened on February 27, 2023. The man had been drinking at the bar and argued with the owner about the price of a drink. He left but waited for her to close up and go home.
According to the court's findings, he followed her, called her name, and then attacked her from behind, grabbing her hair and cutting her neck with a knife, intending to kill her. The victim fought back, kicking him and preventing further stabs. Her screams alerted her husband and other people, who managed to stop the attacker and take away his knife.
She suffered a 12-centimeter cut on her neck and another on her chin. The attack left her with severe physical and psychological problems, including ongoing post-traumatic stress disorder.
The court initially found him guilty of attempted murder and sentenced him to 11 years. He is also banned from going near the victim for nine years after his release and will be under supervised release for ten years. He has been ordered to pay the victim 65,000 euros for her injuries and distress.
The defense tried to get the conviction overturned by arguing several points, including procedural errors, lack of evidence of a surprise attack, issues with the knife evidence, problems with a forensic report, misinterpretation of evidence, the man's intoxication, and a procedural delay.
The Superior Court dismissed all these arguments. They found no procedural mistakes, confirmed that the victim and witnesses clearly identified the knife, and stated that the evidence, including witness statements and expert reports, was enough to prove he intended to kill.
The court noted that the attack was particularly brutal because it was a surprise from behind, using a deadly weapon on the neck, which left the victim no chance to defend herself. They also ruled out the defense's claim that intoxication lessened his responsibility, as there was no proof of severe intoxication.
The court also stressed the victim's account, describing it as consistent, unwavering, and supported by medical evidence and eyewitnesses.