The Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) stated on Thursday that there have been no judicial rulings related to the accumulation of corpses at the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) in Tenerife, and they have taken prompt action.
The TSJC clarified its stance following a disclosure by the Deputy Minister of Justice of the Government of the Canary Islands, Cesáreo Rodríguez, during the Joint Justice Commission meeting on November 29, 2023, in Arrecife. This revelation pointed to a buildup of bodies with prolonged stays at the IML premises in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Later, it was confirmed that the actual number of bodies was 39, not 40 as initially stated.
In response to the information provided, the President of the TSJC initiated an information file ex officio. Throughout this process, the TSJC requested detailed updates on the status of the proceedings from each of the 12 courts involved. These courts are located in Arona, Granadilla de Abona, Puerto de la Cruz, La Orotava, La Laguna, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
By the end of December, all the judicial bodies had furnished the required data to the Presidency. Upon reviewing the updated information this week, it was confirmed that none of the bodies remaining at the forensic facilities were due to delays in judicial procedures.
According to reports, of the 39 bodies identified on December 7, two are awaiting repatriation or the process of locating their relatives; 11 are pending the release of an autopsy report, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Institute of Legal Medicine; 13 are awaiting facilitation of burial by municipalities as per the Mortuary Health Police Regulations; and for 13 bodies, the file has been closed with a burial, cremation license, or authorization for repatriation or transfer issued, duly handed over to the respective family members.
The TSJC emphasized that out of the 39 bodies, only three are associated with the arrival of boats on the coasts of the Canary Islands, all stemming from the same shipwreck.
