The prosecution and private accuser are seeking 16 years in prison for a man on trial at the Girona Provincial Court for alleged sexual assaults against his partner's niece, incidents reportedly occurring between 2022 and 2023 in Cerdanya. The victim, who was 23 and 24 years old at the time of the events, is considered particularly vulnerable due to cognitive difficulties and emotional blocking.
The trial commenced with the playback of the victim's pre-recorded statement. In it, she recounted how the accused inserted his fingers on two occasions: the first at his home and the second at the shop where she worked for her aunt in Puigcerdà. The accused has vehemently denied the allegations.
The victim placed the first incident during a summer morning in 2022, while sleeping at the accused's home. According to her account, he entered the room and, under the guise of giving her a massage, assaulted her. She stated he only stopped when she threatened to scream. The second incident occurred on February 1, 2023, at the shop, where she claimed it caused her "a lot of pain" and led her to tell her aunt.
The victim's mother began to suspect her daughter's situation due to changes in her behavior and mood. After persistent questioning, the young woman confessed the assaults, leading to the complaint.
The victim's aunt testified at the trial, casting doubt on the possibility of the first incident, as she was also home and heard nothing. Regarding the second incident at the shop, she admitted she was not present at the exact moment but noticed nothing unusual upon arrival. Both she and the accused mentioned an argument about hygiene that resulted in the accused hitting the victim in the abdomen.
The accused denied any non-consensual physical contact, stating they rarely saw each other alone and that the shop space did not allow for two people to be in the described situation. The prosecution and private accuser are seeking 16 years in prison, a restraining order, communication ban, and compensation of 6,000 euros for moral damages. The defense is requesting acquittal.
