The Criminal Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC) ratified the sentence of four and a half years in prison imposed on two men who served as skippers in a canoe that arrived in Los Cristianos. In this way, the aforementioned body confirms the resolution adopted by the Second Section of the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife on March 23 of this year.
In the said sentence they are acquitted of the crime of reckless homicide of which they were accused, according to the information offered yesterday by the press office of the TSJC.
The individuals involved they were in charge of the ship with dozens of migrants who arrived at the port of Los Cristianos on October 31, 2021.
During the approximately ten days that the crossing between the Senegalese coast and the south of Tenerife lasted, both individuals assumed command of the canoe, on board which some 82 people traveled, of which 18 were minors. Each of the passengers was charged about 400 euros to board the boat, 18 meters long and three meters wide, which was propelled by two engines. In the early hours of October 30, one of the ship’s occupants died due to severe dehydration and malnutrition, although he also suffered from viral pneumonia.
The number of people killed in the wreck of the canoe that capsized on Monday with more than 100 migrants on board rises to fourteen. The incident occurred near the coast of Senegal and the boat set sail for the Canary Islands, according to the Senegal Press Agency (APS).
During the afternoon of Tuesday, six new lifeless bodies were found, after the governor of Ziguinchor, Guédj Diouf, reported that 92 people had been rescued and eight dead had been found. According to Diouf, the canoe capsized due to a fire that would have been caused by someone who was smoking inside the boat. Diouf pointed out that an investigation has been opened to find those responsible for the exit of this canoe and that search operations continue to locate other bodies or possible survivors.
