Spanish Jury Convicts Man in Fatal Shooting of Moroccan Immigrant, Motive Unclear

The trial opened on Friday, November 10 and ended last Tuesday with the verdict of the popular jury, which recognized the guilt of the accused who shot three times at Younès in the night of June 13, 2021 in a bar in Mazarron (Murcia). In its decision, the jury recalls that the victim and the accused had a "rather lively and tense" discussion during that evening. The Moroccan then joined his friends at their table and the accused left the establishment.

Later, the accused, armed with an old unregistered rifle, returned to the bar’s terrace with the intention of killing the victim. Once there, he headed towards the Moroccan and shot him in the chest. As the victim had collapsed to the ground, he fired two more shots at close range in the abdomen. Younès was taken to the hospital where he died.

However, the jury did not establish the racist nature of the crime. During the trial, the prosecution requested 21 years in prison against the accused for murder and one year for the offense of illegal possession of weapons, as well as a ban on residing or going to Mazarrón for 10 years. The prosecution also demands compensation of 190,000 euros for the victim’s wife and minor son, and 90,000 euros for his parents residing in Morocco.

The lawyer for Younès’ wife, arguing that the crime has a racist connotation, has claimed 200,000 euros for the younger son, 150,000 euros for the wife and 30,000 euros for her two children from a previous relationship who lived with the couple.