The Palma Court has confirmed a sentence of nine months and one day in prison for a man for slapping his partner in the street in Manacor, despite her not wanting to report it or see a doctor.
A slap to the face, which occurred in broad daylight near the Mercadona supermarket at the Manacor train station, has resulted in a firm sentence of nine months and one day in prison. The Provincial Court of Palma has upheld the ruling, emphasising that gender-based violence is prosecuted ex officio, even if the victim does not report it.
The assault: a slap that left no visible injuries
The events occurred on September 10, 2024, around noon. The man had an argument with his partner in public, near the Mercadona supermarket, and slapped her in the face. The woman did not want to go to the doctor or report the incident, so there is no medical report of injuries.
Despite the lack of medical attention, the criminal court deemed the assault proven thanks to witness testimonies and other evidence. The defence appealed, but the Second Section of the Court has dismissed the appeal and confirmed the initial sentence.
The court: “A medical report is not necessary to convict for abuse”
The Chamber has been clear: in cases of physical abuse or violence in a relationship without harmful results, a clinical report is not required. “The fact that the victim did not want to report or see a doctor does not prevent the prosecution of the crime, as long as the evidence presented allows for a firm conviction,” the ruling states.
The court also rejected the request to replace the prison sentence with community service, as requested by the convicted man, arguing that he is a repeat offender. “The aggravating factor of recidivism justifies the prison sentence, which is also the minimum legal penalty within the upper half,” the judges stated.
The sentence: prison, distancing, and prohibition of weapons
The firm ruling imposes on the aggressor, in addition to the nine months and one day of prison, the deprivation of the right to possess and carry weapons for two years, as well as a prohibition on approaching the victim within 500 metres and communicating with her for a period of two years. The man, who did not attend the trial, must serve the sentence in a correctional facility.
For the residents of Manacor, this resolution sends a clear message: machista violence does not go unpunished even if the victim does not take action. The Court reminds that these crimes are of a public nature and that law enforcement and justice act ex officio when there are indications.
The case, which occurred in a busy area of the town, has served to reaffirm the doctrine that one single slap is enough to be convicted. The woman renounced criminal and civil actions on February 6, 2025, but that did not halt the judicial process.
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