Two police officers testified in a Vigo court on Thursday that a man confessed to setting his ex-partner on fire during their arrest in September 2024, despite later invoking his right to remain silent. The man, who was found in the passenger seat of a vehicle driven by his cousin, told officers, “I am the man you are looking for,” before being detained. The case, which involves a woman left with severe burns and lifelong physical and psychological trauma, is awaiting a verdict after the prosecution sought nearly 22 years in prison.
The incident occurred in the Valladares parish of Vigo, where the accused allegedly waited for the victim outside her family home on September 14, 2024. According to the prosecution’s written statement, he grabbed her by the hair, struck her with his knees, and doused her in gasoline before lighting her on fire. The victim, who was 29 at the time, survived but required 10 surgeries and now faces “inability to lead a normal life” due to second- and third-degree burns across her body. Medical experts testified that she experiences “severe psychological suffering” and “fluctuating” mental health, with no prior psychiatric history.
The accused, who was reportedly holding a beer bottle and repeatedly checking officers’ weapons during the arrest, allegedly told them, “Hit me or lend me the gun, I’ll do it myself.” When the officers refused, he attacked them, leading to his arrest. Forensic evidence confirmed gasoline residues on both the victim’s and the accused’s clothing, as well as in a bottle found at the scene. The prosecution argued the attack was premeditated, citing the accused’s history of domestic abuse, including verbal degradation of the victim with terms like “retarded” and “lazy,” and his persistent attempts to rekindle the relationship after she ended it in May 2024.
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Did You Know? The victim sustained burns across “most of her body,” requiring 10 surgical interventions, and now faces permanent physical disabilities, including difficulty gripping objects due to hand injuries, according to medical testimony.
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The prosecution has requested 22 years in prison, citing the “most savage possible” method of killing the victim, while the defense argues for acquittal, citing the accused’s “drug addiction and psychological disturbance.” The victim’s legal team has sought a substantial sum in damages, emphasizing the “aesthetic and psychological destruction” of her life. The court has yet to announce a date for the final ruling.
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What was the victim’s condition after the attack? The victim suffered second- and third-degree burns across most of her body, required 10 surgeries, and now faces permanent physical disabilities, including difficulty gripping objects. Medical experts described her psychological state as “severely impaired” with “fluctuating” mental health.
What legal charges does the accused face? The prosecution alleges the man committed attempted murder with “cruelty and premeditation,” along with assault and psychological harm. He is charged with three offenses, carrying potential sentences of up to 14 years, 11 months, and 29 days, plus a substantial sum in damages.
What happens next in the case? The court has concluded proceedings and is scheduled to deliver a verdict, though no date has been announced. The outcome will depend on whether the judge accepts the prosecution’s arguments of premeditation or the defense’s claims of drug-induced impairment and remorse.
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