Defendant denies killing partner in Camposol trial

The British man accused of killing his partner in Camposol, Mazarrón, has told a jury he did not beat her to death, claiming his amputations and mobility problems made such an attack impossible.

He gave evidence on the latest day of the murder trial in Murcia, saying he had severe physical limitations linked to Buerger’s disease and a gangrenous foot at the time of the incident in December 2022.

In his account, the couple had been drinking at two bars after going out to do some shopping before returning to their home in Camposol. He said his partner got out of the car first to take the dogs into the house while he stayed behind to collect the shopping bags.

He told the court that, after waiting and seeing the house still in darkness, he reversed the car to light the entrance with the headlights. When he got out, he said he found his partner lying on the ground and tried to wake her before calling for help from neighbours.

The latest hearing follows the opening of the jury trial last week. Our earlier report set out the prosecution’s claim that he killed her in Camposol and the defendant’s initial position that it had been an accident.

What the prosecution is saying

Prosecutors have maintained that the killing was a murder with aggravating factors of kinship and gender-based violence, and are seeking 25 years in prison. They reject the defence suggestion of an accidental fall or being run over.

According to the prosecution case, the victim suffered severe injuries consistent with a violent assault. The victim’s sister is also pursuing the case and has joined the prosecution’s request for jail time.

The defence has now asked, in the alternative, for the facts to be treated as negligent homicide, while also seeking mitigating factors including drunkenness and undue delay in proceedings. It has pointed to a partial payment of compensation lodged with the court.

The case is being heard by a jury at the Provincial Court of Murcia.