The jury finds guilty the woman who set fire to the house with a man inside in Ibiza

PalmThe jury has unanimously found the woman accused of murder in the deadly fire in Les Països, Ibiza, in which a 77-year-old man lost his life in August 2023. She could face a life sentence with the possibility of parole. The jury members, who deliberated since last Tuesday, unanimously determined that there was sufficient evidence to convict the suspect of murder and arson. The jurors found it proven that the accused left her home with her face covered to avoid being recognized at 1:05 a.m. on August 3rd and went to the home of the elderly couple, her partner's parents. Once there, knowing that the woman and man were asleep and that he was completely incapable of defending himself, she set fire to the sofa. When she was sure the flames were spreading, she went to the garage and took some pillows located next to the gas tank. After that, he returned home, arriving at 2:31 a.m. "He is guilty of intentionally causing the death of a person vulnerable due to their illness, using a method designed to ensure that death, which prevented any possibility of defense," the verdict stated.

Death by poisoning

According to the jury's findings, the victim was unable to leave the room or get out of bed, suffered second-degree burns over most of her body, and died from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by inhaling smoke from the fire. The nine members of the jury also unanimously found that she had keys to the burned-down house and was familiar with its layout and routines, as she had been caring for the elderly residents. The keys she possessed were never found. The jury based its decision on security camera footage that captured the woman's movements, which she partially did not deny, as well as on the conclusions of the police and fire department investigations. Regarding the woman's statement, they considered it contradictory concerning her use of the veil to cover her face, as she stated she did so out of fear of a former partner. The jury also noted contradictions between the route he admitted and claimed to have taken, and the one captured by security cameras in the area.

Life imprisonment with the possibility of parole

The jury, on the other hand, considered, by six votes to three, that the defendant suffered at the time of the events from a disorder which, while affecting her understanding of the facts, did not completely negate her capacity. With two votes in favor and seven against, the jury opposed a pardon, and by five votes in favor and four against, they opposed considering the possibility of suspending the sentence. The prosecutor and the private prosecution maintained their request for life imprisonment with review, while the defense already announced that it will appeal and expressed its total opposition to this sentence or, if necessary, to an alternative to imprisonment. The events date back to the early morning of August 3, 2023, when the house where an elderly couple were sleeping caught fire. The woman managed to escape, but the man, who was completely incapacitated, died of asphyxiation in bed.