The Santa Cruz de Tenerife Provincial Court has endorsed a fine imposed by a criminal court on a young man for his involvement in a minor assault on another individual. The victim had intervened to assist the man’s partner, who had been left alone in a parking lot.
The fine amounted to 300 euros, and the convicted individual was also ordered to pay the victim 700 euros in compensation and civil liability.
The incident took place at 5:30 a.m. on May 8, 2022, when the victim was with his girlfriend and a friend in the parking lot of the César Manrique Maritime Park in Santa Cruz. They witnessed a distressed girl who claimed that her partner had abandoned her.
The convicted individual received a call from the victim, requesting him to pick up his partner. Upon returning to the scene, he physically attacked the victim with kicks and punches before leaving the area.
The victim sought medical attention, and the doctor issued a certificate documenting injuries that caused a temporary loss of quality of life for 20 days, though there were no lasting repercussions.
The defendant appealed the initial ruling of the Criminal Court, contending that the assessment of the incident was incorrect. However, the Provincial Court deemed his arguments unsubstantiated and based on “stereotypical phrases” that could apply to any appeal against a conviction.
The magistrates of the Provincial Court refused to alter the initial verdict, stating that none of the requirements for revision had been met. They emphasized that their decision was informed by the victim’s account of the assault and the defendant’s partner.
The defendant and his girlfriend partially confirmed the sequence of events, while a medical report supported the victim’s version of the events. The Provincial Court considered the victim’s account credible and sufficient evidence.
The fine was upheld as the economic means of the convicted individual had not been proven, and thus, the penalty set by the lower court was deemed appropriate.
