The man accused of sexually assaulting his daughter since she was twelve years old and until she reached the age of majority has pleaded not guilty and has claimed that the young woman's testimony is "false." Despite this, he has paid 30,000 euros as compensation, which has led the prosecutor to reduce the prison sentence initially requested by two years, now standing at thirteen years.
The trial was held this Thursday in the Third Section of the Provincial Court of Cantabria. The victim, who has given her testimony behind closed doors, has reaffirmed her complaint. She is exercising private prosecution and her lawyer has fully supported the request of the public ministry.
For its part, the defense has reiterated the request for free acquittal for its client. Alternatively, it has requested that, in the event of a conviction, four and a half years in prison be imposed, arguing that he has already covered the entirety of the civil liability arising from the psychological consequences suffered by his daughter.
According to the prosecutor's written statement, the events were reported by the young woman herself. The accused resided in Spain for work reasons and, when traveling to the country where the minor then lived, Ghana, "taking advantage of his status as a father and intending to satisfy his sexual impulses, on several occasions he touched her and kissed her on the breasts under her clothing, without her opposing such acts or reporting them to anyone afterwards, given her young age."
Later, when the girl was 17 years old, she moved to Spain to live with her father and her siblings. At that time, the accused, "taking advantage of his paternal relationship," would have repeated the behaviors, with new touches and even penetration with his fingers, "despite her telling him on all occasions that she did not want to engage in such acts."
Statement of the accused and family conflict
In exercising his right to the last word, the accused addressed the court asking: "If my daughter says I am aggressive in Africa, why does she want to come live here with me?" During the interrogation, in which he responded to all parties, he assured that he "never" stayed alone with the young woman in the family home and attributed the complaint to the influence of the older sister over the victim, with whom he has a "bad" relationship since she returned from Erasmus.
Regarding this eldest daughter, she has described her as a person who intends to "dominate everyone, even her mother" and who gets angry if she wants something "and you don't give it to her." She explained that she asked her to look for a job because her salary was the only one supporting the family, while the young woman wanted to continue studying and needed money for that.
The prosecutor highlighted in court a "WhatsApp" message that the minor sent to the accused, in which she asked him to stop "the hugs," "the touching," and expressed that she wanted "a healthy relationship," requesting that he only give her "the hand." The man justified this text by claiming that his daughter felt "ashamed" to hug him because she was already dating a boy.
Testimony of the sister and attention to the victim
The older sister of the complainant, also a daughter of the accused, has testified as a witness. When asked by the defense about the supposed "bad" relationship with her father due to him asking her to work, she replied that the problems began when she became aware of the events that are now being judged.
She explained that her younger sister confessed to her that, when she was left alone with their father in the family home, he would touch her. According to her testimony, these behaviors began in Ghana when the minor was 12 years old and continued later in Spain, and she had not told her before "out of fear." She also indicated that, when the girl asked the accused to stop, he responded that "he had to make her happy."
The witness stated that, after learning what had happened, she tried to prevent the victim from being alone with their father at home and that they went to a specialized center for victims of sexual crimes to seek help.
Expert reports and trial seen for sentencing
In the expert phase, the forensic doctors who examined the young woman and the psychologist who has treated her confirmed in court the reports issued. All agreed that the girl presented a depressive picture, suffered nightmares, and had suicidal thoughts. Furthermore, the specialist emphasized that the victim's account was "coherent, stable, and congruent."
After the presentation of all the testimonial and expert evidence, the parties have adjusted their final conclusions and the trial has been seen for sentencing in the Provincial Court of Cantabria.