Three men have been sentenced to five years in prison for a brutal attempted murder in Castellón. The court also ordered compensation of €40,000 to the victim, who suffered serious injuries.
Three men have each received five-year prison sentences from the Audiencia Provincial de Castellón after being found guilty of attempting to kill a man with a screwdriver in a busy city avenue. The attack, which took place on September 18, 2024, left the victim with a traumatic brain injury and multiple stab wounds. The court's decision also includes a six-year restraining order, barring the attackers from approaching or contacting the victim by any means.
The incident occurred around 19:00, when the victim was walking with his partner along a central avenue in Castellón. According to the court ruling, the three assailants approached with the clear intention to end his life, or at least fully aware that their actions could be fatal. One of the men attacked from behind, shouting, “Por la espalda también se puede,” as he stabbed the victim with a star screwdriver and struck him on the head. The victim tried to escape but was chased, tripped, and knocked to the ground, where the group continued the assault and stole his mobile phone.
Medical reports confirmed the man suffered a traumatic brain injury and several puncture wounds, requiring 90 days to recover and leaving him with two permanent scars on his head. The court recognized the seriousness of the injuries and ordered the three men to jointly pay €40,000 in compensation for the physical and psychological consequences, as well as €399 for the stolen phone. Additionally, each was fined €240 for petty theft.
The sentencing took into account that the defendants had already paid €6,600 to the victim before the trial, which the court considered as partial reparation and a mitigating factor. However, the aggravating circumstance of acting with superior force was also recognized, given the numerical advantage and the nature of the attack. The verdict was reached following an agreement between the prosecution and the defense, streamlining the judicial process.
Beyond the criminal penalties, the court imposed strict measures to protect the victim. For six years, the convicted men are forbidden from coming within 500 meters of the victim, his home, workplace, or any location he frequents, and from communicating with him in any way. These restrictions reflect a growing trend in Spanish courts to prioritize victim safety in violent crime cases.
Castellón has seen a number of high-profile legal cases in recent years, highlighting ongoing concerns about urban safety and the effectiveness of judicial responses to violent crime. The case also comes amid broader debates about public security and the role of the courts in deterring repeat offenses. In a related context, recent legal actions in other Spanish regions, such as the halted smuggling tour in Galicia, have drawn attention to the balance between law enforcement and public interest, as seen in the report on Galician authorities blocking a controversial boat tour.
Spain’s legal system allows for mitigating and aggravating factors to be considered in sentencing, which can significantly affect the outcome of criminal trials. The combination of partial compensation and the severity of the attack shaped the final decision in this case. The ruling underscores the importance of both accountability and victim protection in the Spanish justice system.
