An Alicante court has sentenced a couple found guilty of killing and dismembering their flatmate to 13 years, 9 months and one day in prison. A popular jury at the Audiencia de Alicante delivered the verdict after a two-year investigation into a crime that shocked the local community and exposed an effort to conceal evidence of the victim’s death.
The victim was a 56-year-old man who lived alone and had no immediate family. He shared his apartment with a woman and, frequently, her partner. The court found that the pair acted together, seeking to take over his property and gain access to his pension of just over 1,000 euros a month. The ruling described the apartment as severely neglected, with extensive dirt and poor hygiene.
The exact date of the killing could not be established, but the evidence placed it shortly before June 12, 2024. Forensic analysis identified fractures to the victim’s skull and jaw, which the court interpreted as evidence of homicidal violence. The couple initially appeared unsure how to proceed after his death. As decomposition set in, they bought tools, including a radial saw, a grinder and metal-cutting discs, to dismember the body. Surveillance footage and a store receipt documented the purchase, which cost 38.34 euros and was paid for in cash.
The dismemberment likely took place in the victim’s bedroom. Investigators found extensive bloodstains, particularly on a wardrobe door that had been turned to conceal evidence, as well as several bottles of bleach. The couple transported the remains to two rural locations outside Alicante. On June 17, they burned the torso near Fontcalent prison and, shortly afterward, disposed of the head and limbs at another site about 1.5 kilometres away.
In the days after the crime, the pair withdrew up to 820 euros from the victim’s bank account. Police found the burning torso in a suitcase beside a dirt road. Subsequent searches uncovered a fire pit containing additional remains. A partially intact hand allowed authorities to match fingerprints and confirm the victim’s identity.
At trial, both defendants denied responsibility for the killing. The woman said she and the victim were like siblings and claimed they found him dead before deciding to dismember the body. Her partner admitted to dismembering the victim and withdrawing money, arguing that continued activity on the bank account was intended to avoid arousing suspicion among the victim’s family. The jury rejected their explanations and convicted both defendants of homicide and fraud. As reported by EL PAÍS, the sentence can be appealed to the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de la Comunidad Valenciana (TSJ).
The case illustrates the investigative challenges posed by attempts to destroy evidence and reconstruct the circumstances of a death. Surveillance footage and fingerprint records helped investigators establish basic parts of the case. Spain has also seen other high-profile legal controversies, including the suspension of a prison sentence in a major corruption case, which prompted debate about sentencing and cooperation with authorities. More details are available in this recent report on a Supreme Court decision.
The Alicante case also highlights the role of popular juries in complex criminal proceedings and the vulnerability of people living in precarious circumstances. The defendants may challenge the sentence through the appeal process.
