The Almeria town of Garrucha remains in disbelief nine days after the discovery of the body of little Lucas, the four-year-old boy believed to have been murdered and raped by his mother’s partner and abandoned in an area of the town’s beach. The accused, who was the subject of a restraining order, is in pre-trial detention, as is the mother, who could have been present in the moments before deathaccording to the Civil Guard report.
There are many unknowns and few certainties in this matter. In recent hours, the version of Juan David, partner of the mother, Bárbara, has become known. His lawyer assured that his client denies sexually assaulting childas highlighted in the Benemérita report, and attributes the tragedy to an intestinal problem that the minor had suffered a few days earlier.
When asked why they didn’t take him to the doctor, he warned that they were afraid it would be found out that the couple were together despite the restraining order, and so they decided to give him medication. Concerning the time of death, his client reportedly stated that both he and the mother, were present.
According to his version, it was the child’s mother who asked him to move the body to the beach because “the child liked to play in this area”. “I would have done it”like, say goodbyeto be alone with the corpse because the child is already dead and heading towards this beach.
“I even learned unofficially that all this could perhaps answer a Santeria ritual or things like that“, specified the defense, emphasizing that the report indicates that the child’s mother asked the day before the events to “find her some holy water” to “water the room in which they were staying”.
The mother denies her involvement
Shortly before, the mother’s lawyer also spoke out. Bárbara, 21 years old and five months pregnant, reportedly told her lawyer that ““denies having participated” and stressed that she had been “completely shocked” by the meetings they had held so far. This version, however, differs from that stated by the other defendant.
She was also questioned about audios her client allegedly sent to his romantic partner. In this regard, he explained that doesn’t really know the truth of these messages”, warning that the mother “has an explanation” for the sending, specifying that she was brought to justice, “without accusing or exonerating herself”.
A strange voice note
This voice note was published by The world and shows the latest messages the woman sent to her partner. “I love you, thank you for always being there for us and for not leaving us alone,” he begins to explain between two sobs. “I know the best decision would have been to leave you alone and stay away from us. Maybe this wouldn’t have happened“, we could hear.
“And sorry my love, I don’t know where I am, Lucas doesn’t react. I don’t feel well“I don’t know what happened,” the woman continued. “We went out for a walk and (Lucas) started getting sick. I don’t know where I am, I’m blinded. (…) I want to die, I don’t want to be without my son“concludes the voice note between the cries and lamentations of the mother.
Warnings about abuse
They have been circulating in the streets of the town for a long time. testimonials and warnings on the treatment of the person investigated towards the minor. A video was posted on social media in which the man is seen shaking and throwing the child to the ground, in addition to shouting intimidating phrases at him. Neighbors say The voice of Almería that the little one “I lived in fear” and that there had been “previous episodes of abuse.”
Even one of the child’s aunts told La Sexta that she had gone to the Civil Guard barracks to request an investigation into the violence from which, according to her, she believed the child was suffering. “The institutions have failed,” he said, warning that “the child was in danger.” Even, he noted, the last time they saw him, the little boy had a head injury and bruises.
Grandpa takes matters into his own hands
The grandfather of the little boy and father of the person indicted decided to act and present himself as a private prosecutor before request custody of a five month old baby whose daughter is pregnant. The lawyer who defends him, José Luis Martín, confirmed that the intention is “to take care of the child who is on the way and to prevent him from being under the guardianship of the mother in prison.”
All this with the aim that “history does not repeat itself”: “He doesn’t want the mother to have this child, he wants to raise him as her grandson.” But that’s not the only legal process the grandfather is fighting for. As his defense announced, his intention is to cremate the little boy’s body. However, he had to ask a voluntary jurisdiction file to the judge to do so, since the mother refuses or does not respond to the request, according to information published by the same media.
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