Malaga Court Issues Verdict in Gender Violence Case
The Malaga Provincial Court has delivered a ruling in the gruesome gender violence case involving a woman named Natalia, who was brutally murdered and dismembered by her former partner, Leonel H. The man violated a restraining order that forbade him from coming near her, leading to the tragic incident. Leonel H. has been handed a prison sentence of 19 and a half years for premeditated murder, which took place on a Marbella beach on January 8, 2023.
Details of the Crime
Leonel H. ambushed Natalia, suffocating her from behind to prevent any chance of self-defense. He then decapitated her and severed her hands, intending to make her identification impossible. He disposed of her body in the sea, as revealed in the court’s ruling. Leonel H. admitted to the murder both to the National Police and in court.
Victim Harassed Prior to the Crime
In the days leading up to the crime, Leonel H. persistently harassed Natalia with phone calls, despite the restraining order that prohibited him from contacting or approaching her. Natalia had confided in her family about feeling harassed and oppressed by him. On the fateful morning of January 8, 2023, Leonel H. persuaded a friend to rent a van and drive him to a religious center where he knew he would find Natalia.
Crime Scene Details
Leonel H. confronted Natalia on the street and forced her into the vehicle. They both alighted at the Pinomar car park and proceeded to the Real Zaragoza beach. According to the court’s ruling, they had consensual sex before Leonel H. murdered Natalia. He used a ‘mataleón’ technique to suffocate her, then dismembered her body and attempted to dispose of it by cutting her abdomen and throwing her into the sea.
Previous Assaults and Court Proceedings
The court heard that Leonel H. committed the crime with explicit disdain for Natalia’s gender. He had previously assaulted her, leading to the filing of complaints and subsequent criminal proceedings. The court acknowledged Leonel H.’s confession and his cooperation with the police following his arrest as mitigating factors in the sentence.
