Asturian-American Migration Forum

http://www.petitiononline.com/fanjul/petition.html

Please, you take the trouble to translate the text of the petition and read it with attention.

Cristina Fanjul was, is, a pretty girl, of beautiful brown eyes when she was attacked sexually by a savage. Cristina Fanjul was forming a part of the group of traditional asturian folk dances "Reija", from Langreo, Asturias. Her aggressor extracted her both eyes. Today Cristina continues dancing in the Group of Dance of the ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España, Blind persons' National Organization of Spain), but her life already will never be the same. We can cry for Cristina, she already cannot.

Carlos, estoy a vuestra disposición para traducir este texto cuando querais.

Terechu

Ah, that would be great, Terechu. I was going to try it, but you're much better!

This is a horrible story. I can see why the petition has had such a large number of signers. Having said that--my natural caution kicks in--I try to learn about both sides of an issue before I take a stand. Here's what the press was saying in December:

http://servicios.elcomerciodigital.com/ ... I-054.html

It does seem too early to release someone who did something this despicable.

(I paste this--in Spanish and English--with some trepidation. In the US, copyright laws are very strict. However, without pasting this here, it will not be available to us online, because these articles are only available online briefly.)

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Ah, sería estupendo, Terechu. ¡Puedo intentarlo, pero eres mucho mejor!

Es una historia horrible. Entiendo por qué la petición ha tenido tal número grande de firmantes. Habiendo dicho que - mi precaución natural empieza - trato de aprender sobre ambos lados de una cuestión antes de adopte una postura. Aquí está lo que la prensa decía en diciembre:

http://servicios.elcomerciodigital.com/ ... I-054.html

Realmente parece demasiado temprano liberar a alguien que hizo algo tan despreciable.

(Pego esto--en castellano y inglés--con alguna inquietud. En EEUU, los leyes de propiedad intelectual son muy estrictas. Sin embargo, sin pegarlo aquí, no estará disponible a nosotros en línea, porque estos artículos son sólo disponibles en línea brevemente.)

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© Copyright EL COMERCIO DIGITAL
Miércoles, 3 de diciembre de 2003

AVILÉS

Solicitado el indulto para el condenado por la agresión a la joven Cristina Fanjul
La familia de Fernando S.V. basa su argumentación en «el excesivo tiempo de la pena que se le ha impuesto y el buen comportamiento que ha demostrado»
ALBERTO RENDUELES/AVILÉS

La familia de Fernando S.V., soldado avilesino condenado por agredir y arrancarle los ojos a la joven langreana Cristina Fanjul el 5 de febrero de 2000, ha solicitado el indulto total o parcial de la pena que le fue impuesta, con el fin de lograr su inmediata salida de prisión. La petición deberá ser aprobada por el Consejo de Ministros en próximas fechas y la familia espera una respuesta afirmativa, bien sea con la supresión de la condena o con una considerable rebaja de los años que debe permanecer en prisión.

Esta solicitud, presentada en la Sección Segunda de la Audiencia Provincial de Oviedo a través de su abogado, José Luis Arrojo, ha sido impugnada por la representación judicial de Cristina Fanjul, al considerar que «los argumentos de una vida destrozada y el buen comportamiento del agresor no justifican la concesión de una rebaja de la pena e incluso su anulación».

Ante tal petición, el Colectivo de Amigos y Amigas de Cristina Fanjul se está planteando la adopción de medidas inmediatas para evitar que prospere la medida. Al respecto, han hecho público un comunicado en el que se indica que «una salvajada de tales características como la cometida por el ex militar ya ha llevado a que 50.000 personas firmaran a favor del cumplimiento íntegro de la pena; la vigilancia para que así sea corre de nuestra cuenta».

La propuesta ha causado indignación entre amigos y familiares de la joven langreana, que siguen insistiendo en la necesidad de que Fernando S.V. pase el mayor tiempo posible en prisión. Por su parte, la familia del soldado considera que los cuatro años que su hijo lleva privado de libertad «son más que suficientes» y que no debe continuar por más tiempo, ya que se puede destrozar la vida de un joven que sólo tenía 20 años cuando ocurrieron los hechos. Su comportamiento avala la ausencia de peligro y plena integración en la sociedad», según aseguró su padre, Fernando Sanz, a este periódico.

Opinión pública

Miguel Ángel Fernández, representante del Colectivo de Amigos y Amigas de Cristina Fanjul, mostró ayer su rechazo a la petición de indulto al asegurar que «no podemos estar cruzados de brazos ante semejante solicitud. Entiendo que un padre se mueva y busque lo mejor para su hijo, en este caso su libertad, pero un delito de semejante calibre no puede quedar impune».

El colectivo está valorando las medidas a adoptar en los próximos días, pero adelantó a este periódico que irán encaminadas a sensibilizar la conciencia de la opinión pública, especialmente a través de los medios de comunicación y en la propia calle. También insistió en «las reiteradas peticiones de solicitar el cumplimiento íntegro de la condena, tal como lo han requerido miles de personas con sus firmas», según Fernández, quien espera recabar toda la información posible de la Audiencia Provincial de Oviedo para hacer una valoración más profunda de la situación.

La reunión mantenida en la tarde de ayer por el colectivo de amigos fue una primera toma de contacto informativa y se repetirá en los próximos días, con el fin de decidir las futura actuaciones. Antes del juicio, celebrado en los primeros días del mes de marzo de 2002, ya se dejó notar su presencia y peticiones, y continuó en los pasillos de la sala de vistas, en donde se dieron cita cerca de un centenar de vecinos y familiares de Cristina Fanjul, procedentes de Langreo.

El desenlace de la petición de indulto no se conocerá hasta los próximos meses, en los que ambas partes insistirán sobre sus respectivas argumentaciones. No obstante, la solicitud de cumplimiento íntegro de la condena que solicita el colectivo de amigos parece totalmente descartada, toda vez que en la fecha de comisión de los hechos existían unos beneficios penitenciarios que favorecen al condenado.

El joven avilesino cumple condena desde el día 6 de febrero de 2000 y dos años después de la comisión de los hechos le fue denegada la libertad provisional, al haberse prorrogado por dos más la prisión provisional, tal como permitía la ley en ese momento.


LA SENTENCIA
Pena: 25 años de prisión, de los que 20 se corresponden con un delito de asesinato en grado de tentativa y cinco más por agresión sexual.

Indemnización: 761.419 euros

Medida: Alejamiento hasta cinco años después al cumplimiento de la pena que le fue impuesta.

Estado: Se consideró que el acusado y ahora condenado se encontraba en perfecto uso de sus facultades mentales, y tenía una capacidad intelectual calificada de normal.

Recurso: Fue desestimado por el Tribunal Supremo, por lo que se mantuvo la sentencia de la Sección Segunda de la Audiencia Provincial de Oviedo.

Ahí va la traducción. Lo siento, pero al copiar el texto perdió el formato.
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Here goes the translation. Sorry, but the format was lost when copying the text.

Terechu
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AGAINST THE PARDON OF CRISTINA FANJUL’S ASSAILANT

View Current Signatures - Sign the Petition

To: Audiencia Provincial de Oviedo y Gobierno central
CRUELTY CANNOT BE PARDONED

On the morning of February 6th, 2000, Cristina Fanjul Cuetos, a young girl from Langreo, a working girl, a daughter, a sister and a friend, was brutally assaulted in Avilés. It took months in a hospital to cure some of the physical injuries; it will take years to heal the psychological scars. Permanent and absolute blindness is one of the most severe sequels. Fernando Sanz Vecino, a professional soldier at that time, had tried to rape and kill her. Given her resistance, he gave her a brutal beating, poked her eyes out and tried to put an end to her life. Today she has to use a guide dog and a cane. He is in jail for the time being. The sentence: 25 years of prison for attempted murder and attempted rape.

Now, however, when not even five years have gone by, Fernando Sanz Vecino’s family have entered a plea for his pardon, contending that 25 years in prison will destroy his life. Furthermore, they point out, he was a model young man until that night and he has continued to be so afterwards. There is only one spot in his record: he attempted to rape and kill a woman. Is not that reason enough for him to serve his sentence?

Given the gravity of the crime committed, given the terrible effects of the assault on Cristina Fanjul’s life and that of her family, given the aberration of entering a plea for a full or partial pardon for someone who has been convicted of a crime of this magnitude, we, the undersigned,

DECLARE:
- That the High Court that judged Fernando Sanz Vecino considered the accusations sufficiently proven. His arguments as to being under the influence of alcohol and pills were dismissed and he was declared to have been fully conscious.

- That the sentence given was a just one in view of the crimes he was charged with, made more serious by treachery and rage.

- That from the time period between the assault and the trial 50.000 people signed a petition as to his serving out his sentence, and granting a pardon now would be disregarding the people’s opinion.

- That the deed caused an enormous social alarm, and that freeing Fernando Sanz Vecino would bring about a similar effect given the characteristics of his crime. It is a proven fact that those who perpetrate sexual assault usually repeat their crime when set free.

- That the lives of Cristina Fanjul, her family and friends have been branded forever in the most traumatic way, so that we do not consider the argument about the effects of prison on the assailant to be a valid one. He received the sentence he deserved. She received an injust punishment for refusing sexual intercourse.

- That given the present situation in our country, with an average of two women dying every week at the hands of men, granting a pardon to Fernando Sanz would be disrespectful to the victim and a clear demonstration that to our Justice the life of a woman is considered of less value.

- For all the above, we declare, loud and clear, by means of our signatures: NO PARDON FOR FERNANDO SANZ VECINO!

Sincerely,
The Undersigned

View Current Signatures



The Contra el indulto del agresor de Cristina Fanjul Petition to Audiencia Provincial de Oviedo y Gobierno central was created by amig@s Cristina Fanjul and written by Mª José Fernández Hevia.

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Does anyone know what the outcome of the request for a pardon was? If you have any information, please post it as a reply to this thread.

Bob Martinez

It seems that at this moment the request of pardon action is legally stopped, due to the popular opposition. This Sunday an article was published in La Nueva España newspaper on Cristina Fanjul. A picture shows Cristina dancing Asturian folk dances with her uncle and other members of the Reija Folk Dance Group, under the attentive look of her lead-dog.

I'm relieved to hear of the disposition on this case. I was completely astounded that the issue of early release would even be contemplated in such a horrendous crime.

Thanks for the information, Carlos. I'm pleased to learn that Asturian court system has not been swayed by the "only one offense in a lifetime" argument.

Bob Martinez

Bob, different penal laws do not exist for Autonomous Communities, as those of every state in USA. The legal Spanish system, up to where I know, is more human and provides more guarantees, so much procedural like of rehabilitation, that the American. For example, the death sentence does not exist, certainly, nor the life imprisonment.

A person only can spend the rest of his life in prison by a unique way: accumulating judgments. That is to say, there adds sentences of prison of all his crimes, but with a maximum of 30 fulfilled years really. For example, let's suppose that a sentence for murdering a person is 20 years of jail. If a delinquent kills 6 persons, it would add 120 years of jail, which would mean that, in the practice, the murder would spend the rest of his life in prison.

But the proper Penal Code prevents, in normal circumstances, that they manage to be fulfilled so many years of prison, because the aim of the laws is not the revenge, but the rehabilitation of the prisoner, and not to think that a person needs any more years for became a socialy acceptable individual.

Our penal system has holes, abuses exist, the judges sometimes can pronounce wrong sentences, but it offers enough guarantees. The free public defenders exist, like in USA, but any public defender is legally obliged to do the possible better thing. If a convict is not consent to the way of acting of his attorney, he can reject him all the times wants it . And certainly, always there stays the option to pay the one that one prefers, if you have the needed money.

Also there works the system of pardons, for which it is possible to think that a delinquent is completely rehabilitated before fulfilling the totality of the penalty. For it there are psychologists and the so called "Judges of Penitentiary Monitoring".

A prisoner can reduce his sentence by good behavior, work, etc. And also it is possible to be reducing the imprisonment degree gradually, for example, the so call Open Regime, by which the prisoner can have weekend permissions, to coexist with its family, or to even work in a job throughout the day and to only go to sleep in prison at night.

Naturally, that does not mean that a too soft sentence for very serious crimes prevails. It is assumed that there is a proportionality between the type of crime and the sentence. But I insist on which the bottom philosophy is not the revenge, but preventing that the criminal makes damage to anybody and if is possible, to reinsert him in the society. With that general spirit it is at least like are made the laws, with all the practical failures that it can later have.

You can understand why with these conditions it does not seem nothing reasonable that the ex-soldier who attacked Cristina is released so soon.

That's interesting. You're right that here in the US, the public tends to see prison as a means of keeping criminals off the street and the death penalty as a means of getting rid of them permanently. There was a period in the 1960s and 1970s in which some prisons tried rehabilitation. As I understand it, the results were not very good, but if the results for some were, in fact, better, it would still seem a worthwhile attempt.

I was going to ask if the Spanish public complains when criminals are released back into ordinary life. I can see at least in this case the answer is "yes!"

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Es interesante. Tienes razón: aquí en los EE.UU., el público tende a ver prisión como un medio para quitar los criminales de la calle y la pena de muerte como un medio de deshacerse de ellos permanentemente. Había un período en los años 1960 y años 1970 en el cual algunas prisiones intentaron la rehabilitación. Como lo entiendo, los resultados no estaban muy buenos, pero si los resultados para unos fueran, de hecho, mejor, parecería todavía una tentativa que "vale la pena" (¡no pensé de chiste!).

Iba a preguntar si el público español se queja cuando los criminales son liberados por las calles y la vida ordinaria. ¡Puedo ver--al menos en este caso--que la respuesta es "sí!"

You bet! The public at large and the Police in particular get very frustrated when dangerous criminals are released from prison for good behaviour, after serving only 1/3 of their sentence. It's not uncommon that a rapist is released from prison after serving only 3 or 4 years, just to go back to his favourite passtime and be arrested again.
The Law has been reformed last year to ensure that terrorists serve a full 40 year term, which is probably unfair, although I myself would wish all murderers would get that same sentence.
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Ya lo creo! El público en general y la Policia en particular se sienten muy frustrados cuando criminales peligrosos salen de prisión por buen comportamiento, después de haber cumplido sólo un tercio de su condena. No es raro que un violador salga de la cárcel al cabo de 3 o 4 años, sólo para volver a su pasatiempos favorito y ser arrestado de nuevo.
Se ha reformado la ley el año pasado para que los terroristas cumplan condena íntegra de 40 años, lo cual es probablemente injusto, aunque yo desearía que todos los asesinos recibieran esa misma sentencia.

Terechu