Justice confirms 19 years in prison for a man who mistreated and raped his wife for more than half a century

The Supreme Court of Justice of Andalusia has upheld a nineteen-year prison sentence for a seventy-eight-year-old man who abused his wife for more than fifty years. The appellate court rejected all arguments raised by the defendant’s legal team, thereby confirming the ruling issued by the Third Section of the Jaen Provincial Court in April 2025. The conviction covers continuous physical violence, verbal abuse, and repeated sexual aggression committed during the couple’s marriage while they resided in Barcelona and Andujar, in the province of Jaen. The original judgment imposed fifteen years in prison for a continuous crime of sexual assault aggravated by kinship. Additional penalties included three years for habitual domestic abuse and one year for maltreatment within the scope of gender-based violence. The court also ordered prohibitions on approaching or communicating with the victim for periods ranging from three to ten years, which exceed the duration of the imprisonment terms. The appellate panel deemed the factual account fully proven. It described how the accused constantly hurled degrading insults at his spouse and ended disputes with severe beatings. These assaults sometimes occurred in front of their children and grandson. The woman testified before the court regarding the decades of mistreatment she endured from her former husband. She met him when she was seventeen years old. She forgave his actions and did not file a complaint until she reached the age of seventy-one. At that point, she feared for her life after surviving another beating. The judicial record notes that following each assault, the defendant immediately took her to the bedroom to force non-consensual sexual relations. He proceeded despite her crying. In 2019, he compelled her to have sex against her will in a field while they were performing agricultural tasks. The cycle of violence finally ended after an incident on May 1, 2020. On that day, the man physically attacked his wife upon learning that the president of their residents' association had entered their home to inspect dampness issues. This specific episode triggered the final break in the relationship. The defense challenged the sufficiency of the evidence and questioned the credibility of the complainant. They alleged a spurious economic motive linked to a will signed the day before the formal complaint was filed. However, the Andalusian high court dismissed this argument. It pointed out that the criminal proceedings did not begin at the victim's initiative. Instead, a neighbor called the 016 helpline, leading to police intervention. Furthermore, the woman explicitly renounced any financial compensation during her initial judicial statement. The court highlighted several elements that corroborated the victim's testimony. Direct witnesses included the couple's daughter and grandson, both of whom lived in the family home. They witnessed the physical attacks and the subsequent dynamic in the bedroom. Police officer statements also supported the account. Medical reports documented injuries sustained over time. Psychological assessments diagnosed the victim with moderate-to-severe post-traumatic stress disorder and depressive disorder, conditions consistent with prolonged maltreatment. Regarding legal technicalities, the chamber validated the application of the kinship aggravating factor to the sexual assault charge under the penal code in force at the time of the acts. It rejected the defense claim that applying this factor constituted double counting of the marital bond already considered in the maltreatment charges. The court also denied the request for a mitigating circumstance based on undue delays. It determined that the trial process lasted less than five years. Given the complexity of the case, which spanned five decades of conduct and required multiple expert reports from various organizations, the court deemed this timeframe proportionate. The defendant is currently seventy-eight years old. His wife, who survived the abuse, is now his ex-wife. The couple lived together for over half a century before the separation. The legal battle concluded with the appellate decision dismissing the appeal entirely. The original sentencing from April 2025 stands firm. The man faces the combined prison term along with the extended restrictions on contact with the survivor. The evidentiary basis relied heavily on the consistency of the victim's long-term testimony, supported by familial witnesses and professional medical and psychological documentation. The court found no merit in the suggestion of financial fraud driving the accusations. The procedural history shows a standard progression from police initiation through trial to final appellate review. The final order ensures the defendant serves the maximum penalty allowed for the aggregated crimes. The restrictions on proximity and communication remain in effect beyond the incarceration period. The case closed with the rejection of all defense motions regarding evidence weight and procedural timing.