The ratification of the sentence
The Barcelona Court has confirmed the sentence of 2 years, 4 months and 16 days for a young man from Empordà for a crime of coercion with the aggravating circumstances of hatred and superiority. In this case, Joan has been sanctioned for having rebuked a small group of protesters in favor of King Felipe VI during a visit to Barcelona in October 2020, and for having spray-painted a cross on a Spanish flag carried by a woman. on the back, according to a ruling that was accessed this Friday.
Solidarity Alert Reaction
Solidarity Alert has denounced that the court has maintained the sentence despite the “contradictions” between the versions and that, if there are no changes, Joan will not be able to benefit from the Procés amnesty law, which is currently being negotiated, because the crime of coercion has not been included in this standard.
Denial of charges and appeal
The Empordà resident denies all the accusations and his lawyer, Norma Pedemonte, has announced that they will present an appeal to the Supreme Court against the resolution.
Details of the facts
The events took place on October 9, 2020 in Pla de Palau, where Joan participated in a protest against Felipe VI, along with about 500 other people. There, about 10 people, like the affected woman, approached to support the king, and were rebuked by another small group of independence supporters in which Joan was supposedly included. In the end, the woman and the rest of the people decided to leave, at which point they painted her, and Mossos agents protected and accompanied them. The Empordà resident was later identified with some friends by the police.
Evaluation of the Barcelona Court
The Barcelona Court has prioritized the version of the Mossos agents and the woman, over that of the defendant, and maintains that “there are no deficits in the assessment of the facts” in the first instance ruling.
Aggravating factors and possible consequences
The court has stated that it is correct to apply the aggravating circumstance of discrimination based on ideology to Joan, since with her attitude “she wanted to prevent the freedom of demonstration” of the woman and the rest of the people who were with her. He has also accepted the aggravating circumstance of superiority, which could lead to Joan going to prison.
Solidarity Alert Reactions
Solidarity Alert questions the aggravating factors and is suspicious that Joan’s case has moved so quickly, when the Barcelona Court has been collapsed for some time. The sentence of Penal 27 is dated October 13, 2023. An appeal was filed and the Barcelona Court ratified his conviction on February 8. Now, an appeal will be presented to the Supreme Court.