A man in Cartagena, Spain, seriously injured a homeless person with a folding knife after being asked for money twice outside a convenience store. Nearly two years after the incident, the Fifth Section of the Provincial Court of Cartagena has delivered its verdict, sentencing the defendant to four and a half years in prison for attempted murder and ordering him to pay significant compensation to the victim.
The Incident: Repeated Begging Leads to Violence
This serious violent altercation occurred on a Saturday in October, two years ago. At nearly 8:00 AM, a man was about to enter a 24-hour shop at the entrance of Cartagena. At the store’s entrance, he was approached by a homeless person asking for money. The man ignored him and went inside the shop.
However, when the customer finished his shopping and left the store, the homeless man approached him again to ask for money. This act provoked an extreme reaction from the customer, who pulled out a folding knife he was carrying and stabbed the homeless man in the abdomen before quickly fleeing the scene.
Emergency Response: Victim in Critical Condition
After the incident, an employee of the 24-hour shop found the injured man bleeding on the ground and immediately called the police. Although the victim was conscious at the time, the stab wound to his abdomen was life-threatening. Paramedics arrived and rushed him to Santa Lucía Hospital (Hospital Santa Lucía) for emergency treatment. Following urgent surgery, the victim was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for further life support and observation, where his condition eventually stabilized.
Trial and Sentencing: Plea Deal Reached for a 4.5-Year Sentence
Nearly two years after the stabbing, the attacker appeared before the Fifth Section of the Provincial Court of Cartagena, facing charges of attempted murder. During the proceedings, the defendant confessed to the violent crime.
Due to the defendant’s confession, the prosecution and the defense reached a sentencing agreement. This allowed the case to be concluded quickly, avoiding a full, lengthy trial. The judge sentenced the man to four years and six months in prison.
Additional Penalties: Substantial Compensation and a Ten-Year Restraining Order
In addition to the prison sentence, the court’s ruling imposed strict financial compensation requirements and a restraining order. The defendant must pay the homeless victim €15,175.20 in civil damages.
Furthermore, the court issued a ten-year restraining order. For the next decade, the attacker is strictly prohibited from coming within 300 meters of the victim and is absolutely forbidden from contacting him through any direct or indirect means.
