Europe News
Spanish man released after 11 months on false domestic abuse charge
Jun 1, 2009, 9:46 GMT
Madrid - A Spanish man spent 11 months in prison after being falsely accused of domestic violence by his former wife, who became a minor celebrity after going public with the details, press reports said Monday.
A Seville court has now shelved the case against Jose Antonio Santos, 39, who was released from jail in April 2008.
Raquel Valle regularly repeated her story of 13 years of marital hell and violence at the hands of the father of her two children in regional television and newspapers interviews.
It turned out, however, that many of the 'attacks' had allegedly taken place when the man was not around. Valle is believed to have caused her own knife wounds and other injuries.
Santos has described himself as a 'victim' who had been let down by the judicial system.
Domestic violence is as a serious problem in Spain, where 74 women were killed by their husbands or partners in 2008.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
i too hope the media outlets that so promptly spouted the horrors she lied about correct them all, so this person can get his reputation somewhat restored.
I also think she should go to jail and serve at a very minimum the time he spent in jail and have to pay him for his time in jail equal to that of which he should have earned.
Why is it that the hell he must have gone through after 11 months in a Spanish prison, the loss of his job, access to his children and the enduring damage to his reputation is so casually dismissed by this report?
Why is he a 'victim' (why add the apostrophes?) and not, as he so obviously is, a victim?
Why does an article that is about his arrest and false imprisonment based on her lies have to include the last rider paragraph (that DV is a serious problem in Spain) when I am absolutely sure that the article on his arrest and conviction didn't include a rider pointing out that false claims of abuse aren't as uncommon as some in the media would like you to think?
This guy has had jail time based on her deceit. What's the likelihood that she'll face incarceration for her lies? (answer: very little)
If the Valles lived in America.
I expect Ms. Raquel Valle will be offered a book deal with speaking engagements at Universities and corporate DV fundraisers. Ms. Valle will also be a guest appearance on The View and Oprah to explain her side of the story. These appearance will boost book sales, help TV ratings, raise awareness and more money for domestic violence.
A few years from now, a local bar will feature Ms. Valle in a 'Hot for MILF Night' promotion. Business will be good.
Well...Mr. Jose Antonio Santos will be divorced, so lose his children, eighteen years of income, 1/2 his house, and car. But he will be 'awarded' the most of the marital debt and an Order of Protection. He will still be unemployed, as his public record will show DV charges and prison time. Hey the guy is an accused wife beater - he must be guilty of something. Right.
page: 1
JohnnyPJun 5th, 2009 - 14:00:17
I hope the Spanish authorities believe in equality... and promptly arrest the woman who falsely accused her husband of domestic violence. Many times when women make false claims, the authorities do not hold them accountable, regardless of the damage they have done.
Perjury and making false reports to the police are crimes.
I hope the news media does more than just printing a retraction/correction in micro print on page 16.
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