Condenan a 8 años de prisión al autor del crimen de Juan Castro en Íllora

The author of the crime of the young Juan Castro at the patron saint festivities of Íllora (Granada) in August 2022 has agreed to serve an eight-year prison sentence for intentional homicide and 15 years of exile from the municipality, during which he will not be able to communicate or approach the parents and brother of the victim.

An agreement of conformity between the parties has prevented the trial that was scheduled to begin this Monday at the Granada Court from taking place through the popular jury formula, although the accused has spoken to apologize to the family, stating that he did not intend for this tragic outcome and that he remembers young Juan, 19 years old, every day.

Therefore, the accused, who has been in provisional prison since the events occurred, has acknowledged the brutal assault and has been convicted as the perpetrator of an intentional homicide with the mitigating factors of alcohol and drug consumption, as well as restitution of damages.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office and the other parties involved in the case had initially requested a 15-year prison sentence for homicide, which has been reduced to eight years after the agreement. He has also been sentenced to pay a fine for committing a minor offense of injuries to the young man’s partner, who intervened to try to help him.

The events date back to the early hours of August 15, 2022, coinciding with the patron saint festivities of Íllora, after a fight broke out inside the municipal booth between one of Juan’s friends and the accused. Following the incident, the young man and his girlfriend decided to leave the premises, but the alleged murderer, then 23 years old, confronted him on Diego de Siloé street.

According to the Public Prosecutor’s provisional indictment, as reported by Europa Press, he approached young Juan in a state of «great aggressiveness,» grabbed him by the chest area of his clothing, and while delivering strong punches to his face, he said, «Tell me where your friend is or I’ll kill you.»

At that moment, the young man’s girlfriend intervened to prevent him from continuing to hit him, to which the murderer responded by punching her hard in the eye, causing her to move from where she was. He then continued the «attack,» delivering strong and repeated blows to the young man with a closed fist to the face and head until he lost consciousness.

Several people had to intervene to separate him from the victim, who died as a result of the «brutal punches» inflicted by the accused, who has also been ordered to compensate the young man’s parents with €120,000 for the moral damages caused and the brother with €75,000.

Upon leaving the courts, the parties have agreed that this agreement also aims to avoid a trial where very difficult events for the family would have been recalled and to calm tensions in this Granada town where this crime triggered various altercations that resulted in damage to homes and vehicles of the accused’s family.