In Spain, a Cuban national named Arletys Castillo received a sentence of 20 years and one day in prison for the murder of her partner, Gerard Guerra. This tragic event occurred in November 2023 in Sant Adrià de Besòs, Barcelona, as reported by the Judicial Authority and local media.
The Barcelona court determined that Castillo committed a calculated and brutal murder, taking advantage of the trust in their relationship and admitting to her crimes after being confronted with the evidence. The sentence was published by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia.
Judicial Proceedings and Sentencing
A statement from the Judicial Authority revealed that the verdict was the result of a consensus reached among all parties involved—the prosecution, the private accuser, and the defense—thus avoiding a public trial. Castillo accepted responsibility, acknowledged the legal classification, and agreed to the proposed sentence without appeal.
A Horrific Crime
The murder took place on the afternoon of November 16, 2023, inside the apartment the couple shared on Bogatell Street, Sant Adrià de Besòs. Guerra, 33, and Castillo, 28, had been in a relationship for nearly two years. Castillo also had a four-year-old daughter from a previous relationship.
The court concluded that the crime was a "premeditated and exceptionally violent attack." On that fateful day, Castillo tricked Guerra into believing they were going to play an intimate game, persuading him to sit on a chair and tying his hands behind his back, rendering him defenseless.
With Guerra unable to defend himself, Castillo inflicted 118 stab wounds across various parts of his body, resulting in death due to a hypovolemic shock caused by "extreme and unnecessary suffering," as medical experts confirmed. The court noted that 51 of the wounds were to the face and neck, 53 to the back, chest, and limbs, and 14 to the abdomen.
Deception and Attempts to Mislead Investigators
Following the murder, Castillo attempted to mislead the police with false stories about the event, according to the digital news outlet El Caso. Initially, she told officers from the Criminal Investigation Division of Mossos d'Esquadra that men resembling Moroccans had broken into the apartment, attacked Guerra, and injured her with a severe cut to the femoral artery.
However, the investigation and evidence analysis revealed these claims were fabricated: no one else had entered or left the apartment, and Castillo had inflicted the wound upon herself. Days after the murder, Castillo was arrested and tried to portray herself as a victim of domestic abuse, claiming she killed Guerra in self-defense because he was abusive. This narrative was also proven false during the investigation.
The Sentencing and Its Implications
Besides the prison term, Castillo was ordered to undergo five years of supervised release after serving her sentence and was permanently disqualified from holding public office during her incarceration.
For civil liability, she is required to pay 120,000 euros to each of Guerra's parents and 30,000 euros to each of his siblings.
A Family's Struggle for Justice
Guerra's family views the sentence as the conclusion of a painful chapter. Over the past two years, they not only coped with the loss of their loved one but also endured the slanderous accusations made by Castillo, which severely tarnished Guerra's reputation, as noted by the digital newspaper El Periódico.
"We embraced her as one of our own. She deceived us. Even after killing him, she hasn't stopped lying," Guerra's mother emphasized. "It's untrue that our son was a threat to her or her daughter," both parents asserted, countering Castillo's claims that she killed him because he was a bad person.
Although justice was served, El Periódico pointed out that the sentence did not address Castillo's defamation. Consequently, the family has chosen to speak out: "We need the truth to be known, that our son was a good person."
Following the judicial ruling, Castillo apologized to Guerra's family for his death, marking her first expression of remorse, according to the newspaper.
Arletys Castillo has been in custody since November 29, 2023, when a preventive detention order was issued by the Badalona investigative court.
Understanding the Case and Its Impact
What was the motive behind Arletys Castillo's crime?
The motive for Castillo's crime remains unclear, although it's suspected that she might have killed her partner because he intended to leave her.
How did authorities determine Castillo's guilt?
Authorities uncovered Castillo's guilt through the investigation, which revealed her initial false claims about the crime, and the evidence that confirmed her as the sole perpetrator.
What did the court sentence Arletys Castillo to?
Arletys Castillo was sentenced to 20 years and one day in prison, along with five years of supervised release and an order to pay significant compensation to the victim's family.