A moving testimony in the trial for the murder of Diego L. C.
The National Court resumed a trial on Tuesday that left everyone present with heavy hearts. Pedro N. L. V., father of Diego L. C., who was murdered with machetes in the Carabelos park in the Madrid neighbourhood of Usera, shared his heart-wrenching testimony about the last conversation he had with his son before his tragic death.
On February 5, 2022, while waiting at home for Diego to return after going out to buy empanadas for dinner, he received a devastating call. “Dad, they’ve killed me,” were the last words he heard before losing him forever. The emotion overwhelmed the father during his statement, forcing the president of the court, Alfonso Guevara, to briefly interrupt the session to allow him to compose himself.
The case involves fifteen defendants belonging to the youth gang known as Dominican Don’t Play. The prosecutor has requested a permanent reviewable prison sentence for one of the accused, Daniel I. A., who is identified as the material author of the murder following a coordinated attack on Diego and his friends by several members of the criminal group.
Throughout the trial, fourteen other defendants have admitted to belonging to the ‘choir’ — a local group within the DDP — and have expressed remorse for their actions, accepting sentences ranging from one to five and a half years in prison after reaching an agreement with the prosecutor.
Tatiana M. Q., Diego’s girlfriend and pregnant at the time, also provided a moving testimony. She recalled how she heard the anguish in the father’s voice when he received the fatal news and how she ran to the park only to find Diego lying on the ground, still alive but gravely injured. “I screamed at him not to die,” she remembered through tears as she recounted how she tried to keep him conscious until medical help arrived.
One of the friends present during the attack testified via videoconference with his face hidden due to fear of retaliation from those involved. He recounted how he and other friends were surprised by a group of twenty young people armed with machetes while enjoying a quiet night in the park. Despite the widespread panic, several attackers managed to reach Diego and inflicted multiple fatal stab wounds.
This case once again brings to light the worrying reality of youth gangs in Spain and their devastating consequences on innocent families. The fight against this violence becomes increasingly urgent in the face of such shocking testimonies as those presented today in court.
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