A jury at the Barcelona Provincial Court has unanimously found a man guilty of the murder and dismemberment of his flatmate in Piera in 2022. The verdict, announced by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC), also includes a conviction for desecrating a corpse.
The jury recognised the mitigating circumstance of a mental alteration in the accused. Prosecutors had argued that the accused attacked the victim, who was resting, with a blunt object like a hammer, striking him repeatedly in the skull.
According to the prosecution's written accusation, the victim suffered 16 head wounds, which caused his death. Prosecutors stated that the accused intended not only to kill but also to inflict "great, unnecessary pain" on the victim, who was unable to anticipate or defend against the attack.
Dismemberment and Disposal
After the murder, the accused used a saw or another cutting tool to divide the victim's body into two halves. He then deposited these parts in two locations near the home, about 1.5 kilometres apart. One part was found in the Ca n'Aguilera stream, and the other in an open field.
The accused has been in provisional prison since 20 December 2022. The Public Prosecutor's Office had sought a sentence of 23 years for the murder, citing treachery and cruelty, and an additional five months for the desecration of a corpse. Prosecutors also requested €150,000 in compensation for the victim's family.
