Murder or self-defense? Trial begins for the death of a thief in Inca

PalmThe jury trial of the man accused of killing one of the assailants who broke into his home to steal marijuana plants began this Monday at the Provincial Court of Palma. The prosecutor asserted in the first session that "there is more than enough evidence for a conviction" and maintained that there is no dispute that the accused caused the victim's death. The hearing began after 1 p.m., following the selection of the jury, which will determine the guilt or innocence of both the homeowner, accused of homicide, and the other three men, charged with attempted robbery. The prosecution is requesting a 15-year prison sentence for the homeowner and 11 months for each of the three assailants. It is also seeking approximately €157,000 in compensation for the victim's family. During the preliminary hearing and the reading of the initial reports, the prosecutor emphasized that "the fact that the accused killed a person is not in dispute" and that the evidence presented supports a conviction. The defense attorneys for the mother, sister, and father of the deceased young man went further, arguing that the events constitute not manslaughter, but murder, based on two aggravating circumstances: surprise and cruelty. They argued that the victim was attacked from behind and received "a large number of stab wounds" until he bled to death. "It wasn't a three-on-one situation, but rather an unarmed person who was surprised and repeatedly stabbed," stated the lawyer for the young man's father.

For his part, the defense for the property owner maintained that the circumstances surrounding the events did not constitute either homicide or murder as alleged by the prosecution, and reminded the jury of the defendant's presumption of innocence.

The lawyers for the three men who were with the victim also requested an acquittal, arguing that they did not participate in the events. One of the lawyers asserted that his client "had no intention of committing the robbery, did not conspire with anyone, nor did he act as a lookout."

The Facts

The events date back to September 24, 2020. According to the prosecution's report, four men traveled to a property in Inca with the intention of stealing marijuana plants. Three of them remained outside while the fourth entered through a hole in a metal fence. At that moment, he was surprised by the homeowner and, during a struggle, was stabbed several times. Badly wounded, he managed to leave the property, but the homeowner chased him outside, where he stabbed him again before leaving the scene. The man died shortly afterward from his injuries. The trial will continue this Tuesday with the testimony of the first witnesses, including Civil Guard officers, and is expected to last throughout the week.