Spanish Court Orders 10-Year Expulsion of Moroccan Man for Imprisoning Wife

The superior court has replaced the prison sentence with the expulsion of Spain for 10 years of the Moroccan, who is also prohibited from approaching or communicating with the victim for 8 years. The defendant, aged 44, can appeal the decision, reports Diario Critico.

The defendant and the victim, a couple for 4 years, live in an abandoned sawmill, located on Larrainzar street in Burlada. On February 24, 2022, while the couple was arguing, the man suddenly left the premises, locking his wife inside. He placed a chain and a padlock on the door to prevent her from getting out. The court considered the act as a crime of illegal detention with an aggravating circumstance due to the kinship.

To make their decision, the judges of the provincial court considered the recording of the victim’s call to the emergency services to report her companion who had locked her up, and the statements of the two municipal police officers in Burlada who went to the scene and confirmed that the victim was indeed locked up and that it was "impossible" to open the door from the inside.

The defense of the accused appealed the decision to the superior court, citing the violation of the principle of the presumption of innocence. A request rejected by the court, which confirmed the decision of the provincial court and ordered the expulsion of the Moroccan.