Sentenced to 20 years in prison for stabbing a woman to death in Vigo (Pontevedra)

The jury court of the Provincial Court of Pontevedra has handed down a 20-year prison sentence to an individual, identified as Pablo P.. V., for the crime of his neighbor in a residential complex on Zamora Street, in Vigo. The accused was unanimously found guilty of a crime of murder that included cruelty and treachery.

According to the presentation of the facts in the sentence, which is still appealable, both the aggressor and the victim had “coexistence problems” due to certain noises that the convicted person attributed to the woman.. The fatal encounter between the two occurred accidentally on October 23, 2022, in the common areas of the building..

In the judicial report, it is stated that after a brief verbal interaction, Pablo P. IN. went up to his apartment. Subsequently, he approached his neighbor “from behind with the intention of causing her death, carrying a red knife” with a 20 cm long blade, just as she was trying to enter his home..

Treachery and cruelty in crime

The jury's decision highlights the treachery in the attack, since it was carried out while the woman was on her back and suddenly. The victim, consequently, “could do nothing to defend himself”.

According to the ruling, the first attack was directed at the dorsal area of the victim, who screamed for help on two occasions.. The aggressor did not stop and continued stabbing her in different areas of her body.. The sentence also describes that the accused attacked her again inside her house, exacerbating the woman's suffering by stabbing her with the knife several times in her chest..

Details and evidence of the case

The violence of the assault was such that “the handle of the knife broke and the blade remained inside the victim's body,” who lost his life due to “immediate and irremediable loss of blood.”.

The homicidal intent was corroborated by the statements of Pablo P himself. IN. as well as the type of weapon used and the number of thrusts. Despite there being no eyewitnesses, neighbors indicated that they heard screams and the sound of a door slamming abruptly.. Upon the police's arrival, the accused confessed: “she is dead” and “I killed her.”.

Jury conclusion and appeals

The jury assessed the aggravating circumstance of treachery, and the most extensive debate focused on the issue of cruelty. It was concluded that the accused deliberately increased the victim's pain.

For all of the above, a sentence of 20 years was established, two more than what the Prosecutor requested, taking into account the aggravating factors of cruelty and treachery. The sentence can be appealed before the Superior Court of Xustiza de Galicia (TSXG).