Manresa City Council will apply to take part as a popular prosecution in the case concerning the violent death of Carles Vilajosana Arocas, Mayor Marc Aloy announced on Wednesday, 2 September, after a minute’s silence outside the town hall.
The decision means the council intends to participate in proceedings against the people detained in connection with the case, while supporting Vilajosana’s family and pressing for the courts to act. Vilajosana, 45, was a resident of Castellnou de Bages and was fatally stabbed in Carrer de Sant Jaume during the early hours of Tuesday, according to reports carried by EFE.
“The city has been and must continue to be a city of peace,” Aloy said, describing the case as “painful and exceptional”.
The Mossos d'Esquadra, Catalonia’s regional police force, detained two minors on Tuesday in connection with the death. They were due to appear before the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office, EFE reported.
Minute’s silence draws about 200 people
Manresa declared a day of mourning and held the minute’s silence at midday in Plaça Major, where around 200 people gathered, according to EFE. Relatives and friends of Vilajosana, municipal representatives, members of the city’s two Islamic communities and mayors from Castellnou de Bages and other Bages municipalities attended.
Aloy was joined by Ramon Espadaler, the Generalitat’s Justice Minister, and Elia Tortolero, the Generalitat delegate for Central Catalonia. The mayor thanked police for the arrests and called for justice to be applied firmly.
“One of the city’s most beautiful nights, the Correfoc, has become the worst,” Aloy said, referring to the fire-run event held during the Festa Major.
Council says it will support the family
Aloy said the council would go as far as necessary to accompany the family and seek accountability through the courts. The council’s planned role as a popular prosecution would give the municipality a formal place in the case alongside the public prosecution.
Tortolero said the Generalitat would examine which safeguards had failed before two minors allegedly committed such an act. She also said public institutions would be firm with political groups using the death to promote hate speech.
Residents affected by the case can follow any judicial updates through the public statements issued by the Mossos d'Esquadra and the competent courts.
Primary sources: Departament d'Interior i Seguretat Pública, mossos.gencat.cat. Reported by elnacional.cat, elmundo.es, infobae.com, elperiodico.com, D.S, naciodigital.cat, estat.cat, Guillem RS, regio7.cat, laciutat.cat, larepublica.cat, El Periódico (CA).
