Tenerife Neck Attack: Man Faces Attempted Murder Trial
A man faces attempted murder charges in Tenerife next week after allegedly slashing another man's neck with a broken bottle, with prosecutors seeking a ten-and-a-half-year prison sentence.
An argument between two men in the early hours of the morning in southern Tenerife left one man critically injured with a deep neck wound. He was close to bleeding to death. Bystanders and two police officers quickly stepped in, and their actions saved his life.
The injured man was rushed to a hospital in the south of the island for emergency surgery and stayed there until he recovered. Witnesses stopped the attacker from running away until National Police officers arrived and arrested him.
The attacker will face trial next week at the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, charged with attempted murder. This is according to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Prosecutors are asking for a sentence of ten and a half years in prison. After his release, they want a five-year restraining order, preventing him from coming within 500 meters of the victim or contacting him. They also request six years of supervised release after he leaves prison.
The attacker is also expected to pay over 7,400 euros to the victim for medical costs and recovery time. However, prosecutors have asked for a separate process to determine any further compensation, meaning the final amount the victim will receive is still unclear.
The attack happened at 4 AM on August 13, 2024, on Rafael Puig Avenue in Arona's tourist area. Two men were talking, but their conversation turned into a heated argument. At some point, the accused man grabbed a glass bottle, broke it, and then used it to attack the other man.
Prosecutors say the attacker "intended to kill the victim" and suddenly cut his neck with force. After the violent assault, the attacker tried to flee but was stopped by several bystanders who saw what happened.
The victim suffered a deep cut to his left jugular vein. This wound was life-threatening, but he survived. Prosecutors credit his survival to the quick actions of police officers who arrived and stopped the heavy bleeding.
Emergency medical services also played a vital role, quickly taking the victim to a hospital in the south of the island for life-saving treatment.
According to the indictment, the victim had emergency surgery and was hospitalized, suffering from moderate after-effects for up to 29 days.
The trial is set for next Tuesday, November 4, at Section Six of the Provincial Court. The two witnesses who saw the attack and held the suspect, along with the police officers who arrived quickly, are all called to testify.
Security camera footage from the entertainment venue where the assault took place is also available. Legal sources say this unchallenged evidence will be key to the prosecution's case during the trial.