Holidaymaker charged with assault of his partner at Gran Canaria Airport
A 77-year-old man has been charged for an offence of causing injury within the context of gender-based violence, after assaulting his partner shortly after arriving at Gran Canaria Airport, where the couple had planned to spend their Easter holiday.
The case was heard by Judge Victoria Rosell at Court No. 4 for Violence Against Women in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, who sentenced the Finnish man, and imposed a restraining order preventing him, from coming within 500 metres of his partner for the next eight months, in line with Spanish criminal law.
Incident took place at the airport
The incident took place on the afternoon of Friday 20th March, just before 2:00pm, in the international arrivals terminal at Gran Canaria Airport.
According to witnesses, the couple became involved in a heated argument shortly after landing. The man then suddenly struck his partner at least twice with his fists. Several cleaning staff and private security officers saw the assault, and also reported that he hit her on the back with a bag or backpack.
Security personnel alerted the National Police, who arrested the man and made sure that the received medical assistance.
Although the woman did not file a formal complaint, consistent witness statements allowed officers to proceed with the arrest. The suspect was detained on Friday and brought before a court yesterday (Saturday) after spending the night in police custody.
Agreed sentence
The defendant, represented by a duty solicitor, reached an agreement with the prosecution and admitted to the offence. He has been sentenced to:
- 30 days of community service
- A restraining order prohibiting him from approaching within 500 metres of the victim at her home, workplace, or any place she frequents for eight months
Holiday plans cut short
The couple had arranged to stay at a hotel in Puerto Rico, which has been informed of the court ruling so that appropriate measures can be taken.
Both individuals are residents of Joutseno, a Finnish town of around 70,000 inhabitants known for its pulp and paper industry. The restraining order is also expected to apply when they return to Finland.
Authorities in the Canary Islands continue to stress that cases of gender-based violence are pursued even where victims do not formally report the incident, particularly when there is clear witness evidence.
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