Four convicted in Spain over homophobic murder

25/11/2024 6:10

        Four men were convicted in Spain on
        Sunday in connection with the homophobic murder of a 24-year-old
        nursing assistant that sparked protests in cities across Spain
        and abroad.
        
        Samuel Luiz died in hospital after being assaulted by a
        group of people outside a night club in A Coruna in the
        northwestern Galicia region in July 2021.
        
        Diego Montaña, Alejandro Freire and Kaio Amaral were found
        guilty of aggravated murder, and Alejandro Míguez of complicity.
        
        The jury in A Coruna found it proven that Montaña - the
        leader of the group - had concluded that Luiz was gay from his
        speech and clothing, shouting homophobic insults at him before
        the attack and making anti-gay comments afterwards to the other
        accused.
        
        "Today, four attackers have been sentenced for the
        murder of Samuel Luiz," former equality minister Irene Montero
        posted on the social media platform X.
        
        "Let’s not look the other way: LGTBIphobia that kills
        begins with comments or 'jokes' that are hateful, harmful and
        must be stopped."
        
        The jury spent an unusually long five days deliberating
        after a trial that lasted nearly four weeks. Sentencing will
        take place later; the prosecution has asked for jail terms of
        between 22 and 27 years.
        
        Some 364 hate crimes related to sexual orientation or gender
        identity were reported in Spain in 2023, and 184 arrests were
        made, according to Interior Ministry data. The European Union
        Agency for Fundamental Rights says only a fraction of hate
        crimes are reported.