Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Setting Fire to a Mattress in an Alicante Shantytown

The Third Section of the Alicante Provincial Court has sentenced a man to five years in prison for setting fire to a mattress in a shantytown located under a bridge near Grafitero Kiz Square, in the San Agustín district of Alicante. The court found him guilty of arson, with the mitigating factor of drug addiction.

The court also imposed a compensation payment on him, which he must pay to the three men who were sleeping there for the damage caused to their personal belongings. The exact amount will be determined during the execution phase of the sentence, according to the Superior Court of Justice.

The fire occurred on May 2, 2024, around 9:30 a.m., when, according to the proven facts in the resolution, the convicted man used a lighter to set fire to a mattress, causing a significant blaze.

The man acted in this manner despite knowing that people were sleeping in the shantytown, which used cardboard as walls and the bridge as a roof. The affected individuals were forced to hastily leave the area where they were sleeping to save their lives. Although there were no personal injuries, they did suffer material damage to their belongings, which are still pending economic valuation.

In addition to affecting the shantytown, the flames partially burned a vehicle parked above the bridge. The now-convicted man denied being the arsonist, claiming that he also lived there and would not burn the only place he had to live. However, the court considers his guilt to be fully proven by the testimonies of witnesses, including National Police officers, the affected individuals, and the findings of the Judicial Police.

The sentence is not final, and an appeal can be filed with the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community.