Spain’s top court reduces prison time for Basques in brawl

MADRID – Spain’s Supreme Court has reduced the prison sentences of eight people convicted of assault for beating up two police officers and their girlfriends at a bar.

Prosecutors argued at trial that the defendants targeted the off-duty officers in 2015 as part of a campaign to oust Spanish security forces and secure Basque independence.

The Supreme Court reversed a lower court decision and said in a ruling published Wednesday that anti-police, anti-Spain discrimination hadn’t taken place so shouldn’t factor into the length of prison sentences.

The seven men and one woman originally received sentences of 2 to 13 years. The Supreme Court reduced them to between 1 1/2 and 9 1/2 years, saying the assault victims suffered physical and psychological damage in the bar brawl.

The eight can appeal to Spain’s constitutional Court.

___

This story has been corrected to show the crime happened in 2015, not 2016.

Join the Conversation!

Want to share your thoughts, add context, or connect with others in your community? Create a free account to comment on stories, ask questions, and join meaningful discussions on our new site.

Leave a Reply

More Articles