Marta's murderer gets 20 years

Wednesday, 18 January 2012 10:23

Written by Editor

A Seville court has sentenced Miguel Carcaño, 21, to 20 years in jail for the murder of 17-year-old Marta del Castillo, whose body has still not been found three years after the crime. The self-confessed killer – who has changed his story several times – was found guilty of killing his ex-girlfriend with an ashtray, then disposing of the body with the help of other people. Three other suspects in the case have been acquitted, including Carcaño's stepbrother and the latter's girlfriend.

The prosecution had asked for 52 years for Carcaño for the murder, rape and damaging the moral integrity of Marta's family. Her father, Antonio del Castillo, said after hearing the verdict on Friday that the court's decision "makes no sense," as it acquits three out of the four suspects, making it seem as if Carcaño killed Marta and got rid of her body by himself.

Police have always suspected he is protecting an adult who helped dispose of the body while Carcaño himself insists he does not know where the body is.

The judge in charge of the case, Francisco de Asís Molina, also ordered Carcaño to pay €340,000 in damages to Marta's family. The prosecuting attorney had asked for an additional €616,319 to cover the costs of the fruitless police search.

The judge has also asked the police to search a different spot near the apartment where Carcaño used to live where the victim's maternal grandfather, José Antonio Casanueva, found a blanket and two plastic bags.