The man accused of attacking a holidaymaker on a Tenerife tram told the court on Wednesday that he has no recollection of the incident, claiming that he only became aware of what had happened when he "woke up" at the police station.
He attributed this to having been under the influence of drugs for several days and suffering from a mental health condition.
During his testimony at the Provincial Court of Tenerife, the accused explained that at the time of the attack, he had not been taking his prescribed medication. He had stopped treatment after leaving the Valle Tabares juvenile centre when he turned 18 years old, four years after arriving in the Canary Islands and beginning medical care.
His defence lawyer argued that if he were to be found guilty, the court should take into account that he committed the assault while under the influence of drugs and due to his psychiatric condition. She requested that, if convicted, the charge be limited to a bodily harm offence, which carries a penalty of between two and five years in prison. The defence also noted that he had paid €300 ahead of the trial as partial reparation for the harm caused.
The prosecution, however, maintained its request for a six-year prison sentence and a compensation payment of €26,000, arguing that the attack constituted grievous bodily harm resulting in disfigurement.
The assault occurred at approximately 10:30pm in January 2024, when the accused, who was travelling with two friends, began questioning the victim about why he was looking at him. The tourist did not respond, but as he stood up to check the next stop, the young man approached him and inflicted a knife wound from his ear to his mouth on the left side of his face.
According to the victim, the attack was intentional and unprovoked, taking place just as the tram doors opened at Guajara station. Immediately after the attack, the suspect’s friends rebuked him, and he fled towards Las Mantecas. Police apprehended him hours later in La Laguna, after receiving a description from tram security staff, who had captured the incident on CCTV.
The victim was treated at the tram stop by a healthcare worker who happened to be on board. When paramedics arrived, the injured tourist was taken towards Las Mantecas for further treatment. However, en route, he encountered the suspect emerging from a wasteland, allegedly brandishing a knife and issuing threats.
The medical worker returned to the tram stop and informed the police that he had seen the suspect. However, after conducting a search of the area, officers were unable to locate him.
The weapon was never found, but all witnesses testified that the attacker had used a sharp, pointed object resembling a small knife. A forensic expert who later examined the wound confirmed that it had been inflicted with such an instrument.
The medical expert also emphasised that, while the injury was classified as moderate, it had significant aesthetic implications that would be difficult, if not impossible, to fully repair. The wound, which left an eight-centimetre-long J-shaped scar, took ten days to heal. However, as the victim was on holiday, the doctor was unable to conduct a follow-up examination.
All witnesses corroborated the sequence of events, identifying the accused as the attacker. They largely agreed on his appearance at the time, describing him as wearing a red jacket and ripped jeans. The testimonies consistently stated that the victim had not provoked the attack and that it had unfolded in mere seconds.
