A 43-year-old man has been arrested in Málaga by the National Police on suspicion of murdering his 49-year-old partner in Gran Canaria. The incident, which has shocked the local community, took place in the Schamann neighbourhood of Las Palmas, where the victim was found dead with clear signs of violence.
A forensic report later confirmed that the cause of death was asphyxiation.
The alarm was raised after a close friend of the victim reported her missing. The friend had been contacted by the victim's daughter, who lives in mainland Spain, and grew concerned when her mother stopped responding to their daily communications.
Following the report, investigators quickly identified the woman's partner as the prime suspect. The man, who had been in a relationship with the victim for several months, had left Gran Canaria shortly after the suspected time of death. He is believed to have travelled first to Madrid and then to Málaga in an attempt to evade capture. Authorities have since confirmed that the suspect was residing illegally in Spain.
The National Police launched a coordinated operation involving several units, including the Mobile Brigade and officers based in Madrid, Málaga, and across Andalusia. Their efforts culminated on Tuesday (8th April) with the arrest of the suspect at a bus station in Málaga.
The man was due to be transferred to Gran Canaria to appear before judicial authorities. However, severe weather conditions affecting the Canary Islands have delayed his extradition. As a result, the suspect will instead appear before a judge tomorrow via a telematic hearing from the courts in Málaga.
This case marks another grim episode in the ongoing national struggle against gender-based violence. Investigations are continuing under the supervision of the judicial authorities in the Canary Islands.
