A resident of Los Realejos has accepted a nearly six-year confinement sentence in a psychiatric facility after admitting to setting fire to 23 containers and an abandoned house where a person was sleeping.
During the trial, the convicted individual acknowledged the events but claimed to have no clear recollection due to being under the influence of drugs. He also expressed remorse, stating that he was unaware of his actions at the time.
An expert has confirmed that due to a personality disorder and a psychotic break exacerbated by heavy drug use, the man, who has been in custody since last March, is not criminally responsible.
There are currently only two psychiatric centers in Spain, one in Seville and the other in Alicante, with the accused set to be admitted to one of them.
Local law enforcement officers testified that on the night of the incident in March, they witnessed the defendant setting fires in four containers and in an abandoned house, leading to his arrest.
Regarding the house fire, the accused claimed to have believed the house was unoccupied, adding that “it was completely gone.”
The Public Ministry initially sought a sentence of ten years and four months for three crimes, considering the aggravating factor of relapse. Additionally, if it is established that the fire did not endanger the occupant’s life, the defendant could face a charge of damages and a three-year prison sentence.
The prosecution also requested a payment of 8,500 euros to the Los Realejos City Council, corresponding to the value of the vandalized containers.
Psychological reports indicate that the defendant’s volitional and cognitive abilities have been “seriously affected, but not nullified,” primarily due to drug and narcotic consumption and the resulting dependency.
The individual inside the house managed to escape upon hearing the sound of a lighter, despite the fire having already spread.
The damaged house is listed in the Protection Catalog as a Cultural Interest Asset (BIC), and as it lies in ruins, the extent of the damage has yet to be determined. The Court has requested a report from the City Council to assess the damage.
Furthermore, the accused was apprehended just ten meters from his neighbor’s home, from which he was ordered to stay at least half a kilometer away.
Analysis revealed traces of amphetamines, tranquilizers, cannabis, cocaine, and MDMA in the accused’s system.
