On Thursday 26th of April, Spanish courts announced the verdict of the trial of five men, dubbed La Manada “the Wolf-Pack”, who were accused of the rape of an 18 year old girl during the San Fermin bull-running festival in July 2016.
The court convicted the five men of sexual abuse, not rape. The difference between the two under current Spanish law is that sexual abuse does not involve violence or intimidation. This means that instead of the 22+ years that the prosecution was seeking, the guilty five will face up to nine years, almost two of which they have already served. According the La Voz de Galicia (https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/sociedad/2018/04/27/integrantes-manada-salir-carcel-dos-anos-medio-buen-comportamiento/00031524781099705596566.htm) among others, it could be much less due to the nature of the charges and the state of the law.
The verdict caused almost instantaneous outrage right across Spain, and mobilisation of vast numbers of people in cities and towns across the country. Thousands took to the streets to protest the lightness of the sentence.
The country has been divided by what many are calling a “disappointing,” “sexist” and “cowardly” decision.
Following the verdict, BOTH parties will be appealing to the courts.
Here are some of the news articles in both Spanish and English that explain the full story.
Esp:
http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-internacional-43907559
Eng:
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-43896880
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-42149912
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