On 22 July 2026, the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJCV) upheld the 28-year prison sentence imposed on a young man for his role in the murder of a retired canon from Valencia Cathedral. The court’s Civil and Criminal Chamber rejected the appeal filed by the only person convicted in the case, leaving the jury-court conviction and sentence unchanged. LegalToday reported the decision that day.
The case centers on events of January 21, 2024, when the 79-year-old victim was killed in his home in basic Valencia. Information from the jury’s findings, the convicted man acted with an unidentified accomplice. The accomplice suffocated the victim, leaving him no chance to defend himself, then took his mobile phone and both payment cards, a credit card and a store card. The items were handed to the convicted man, who used the cards to withdraw cash and make purchases totaling more than €2,300. He later spent another €375 with the second card. Part of the stolen money went to the accomplice.
The court’s ruling sets out a 20-year sentence for murder and five years for violent robbery. It adds three years for continuous fraud. The defense’s attempt to invalidate the police search of the defendant’s hostel room, where officers found the victim’s phone and cards, was rejected. The judges noted that the defense had not raised the objection at the proper stage of proceedings, waiting until closing arguments.
The Superior Court also found no breach of the defendant’s right against self-incrimination or his right to present evidence. The panel rejected claims of procedural irregularities and flaws in the verdict that could have led to an unfair trial. On the presumption of innocence, the court said it could not re-examine the evidence assessed by the jury. It concluded that the facts established at trial clearly pointed to the defendant’s active involvement in the killing.
The 22 July decision rejected the sole convicted defendant’s appeal against the jury-court judgment. The ruling is not yet final and may be appealed to the Supreme Court. The decision comes amid broader discussions about the effectiveness of Spain’s judicial system, including other recent cases such as the Madrid court’s decision to uphold a prison sentence for Toño Sanchís over financial misconduct. Together, the cases show how courts weigh procedural requirements and appeals based on technicalities.
Spain’s legal structure allows multiple layers of appeal in serious criminal cases, but higher courts typically defer to the factual findings of juries and trial judges unless clear legal errors are demonstrated. Valencia Cathedral, a historic and religious landmark, has rarely been the scene of such violent crime, making the case particularly impressive in the region. An appeal to the Supreme Court remains possible, so the legal process is not yet complete. The TSJCV’s decision upholds the jury’s conclusions and leaves the 28-year sentence in force.
