Tenerife Court Hears Case of Alleged Carnival Sexual Assault

The Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife held a hearing this week for a man accused of sexually assaulting a woman during the city’s most recent Carnival. As reported by El Día, the case highlights the challenges of prosecuting sexual offenses in nightlife settings, where the legal focus often centers on the distinction between consent and coercion.

The prosecution and the victim’s lawyer, Luis Sánchez García-Yanes, are seeking a six-year prison sentence and five years of supervised release. There is a significant disagreement regarding financial compensation: the Prosecutor’s Office is requesting 13,000 euros, while the victim’s legal team is asking for 50,000 euros, citing the severe psychological impact and the violation of the victim’s integrity. The defense has requested an acquittal, arguing that the case should be dismissed due to procedural delays.

The incident occurred in the early hours of February 10, 2024. According to court documents, the victim and the accused—who had known each other years prior—met during the festivities. The victim states that she explicitly rejected the man’s advances throughout the night, but he later assaulted her near the fairgrounds. Her friends testified that the accused had expressed his intentions earlier that evening and noted a sharp change in the victim’s demeanor following the incident.

The accused denies using violence or acting without consent. He claims the accusation was a reaction to his plans to leave the island for work. The case underscores the importance of consent under Spanish law, which requires it to be free, explicit, and continuous. Recent legal precedents emphasize that the trauma from such assaults extends beyond physical harm, often worsened by the stress of the investigation and trial.

The victim is currently receiving psychiatric care and medication, which the prosecution highlighted to demonstrate the severity of the trauma. The court must now weigh the conflicting testimonies and determine whether the accused’s actions violated the victim’s bodily autonomy. The final verdict will determine if the charges are upheld, in a case that has once again drawn attention to the need for safety during large public celebrations.