Two new arrests in connection with death of flamenco singer Matías de Paula in Villanueva de la Serena
The alleged gunman was arrested yesterday in the neighbouring town of Magacela after stabbing a taxi driver
Three arrested for flamenco singer's murder
Two people were detained on Tuesday evening in connection with the death of flamenco singer Matías de Paula, which occurred on 15 May in Villanueva de la Serena (Badajoz), according to El País. Their arrests follow that of the alleged gunman, apprehended hours earlier in the town of Magacela. The three people implicated are relatives of one another, and the Government delegate in Extremadura, José Luis Quintana, ruled out further arrests on Wednesday.
Quintana did not specify the facts attributed to the two latest detainees or the location where they were arrested, as the investigation remains under judicial secrecy. Their presentation before a judge is scheduled for the following Friday.
The singer was lured with deception
Matías Corraliza Fernández, the real name of the 52-year-old flamenco artist, died last Friday in the vicinity of Plaza Rafael Alberti, near his mother's house. At around 3 p.m. he went out to meet people who had summoned him through messages. Several witnesses agree that he fell to the ground after being shot in the head. Those involved fled the scene, and since then neither the victim's family nor the alleged attacker's family frequent the area, according to residents of the municipality.
The suspect captured after stabbing a taxi driver
The first arrest took place on Tuesday at midday. The alleged gunman, identified by the initials F.S., was detained in Magacela, approximately 13 kilometres from Villanueva de la Serena. According to sources familiar with the case, the suspect had taken a taxi and, following a dispute with the driver, stabbed him. The taxi driver went to a healthcare centre and when he reported what had happened, a joint operation by the Police and Civil Guard was activated, which resulted in F.S.'s detention.
Jealousy as main theory
One of the lines of investigation points to jealousy as the motive for the crime. The main suspect, with a police record for gender violence, had been released from prison days before the shooting. He went to meet the singer accompanied by several family members.
A spokesperson for the deceased's family stated on Monday in the Antena 3 programme Espejo Público that Matías de Paula had maintained a relationship with the suspect's ex-wife "as teenagers", when both were 14 or 15 years old, and that she had attempted to resume contact through social media. The singer's family argues, however, that Matías de Paula had no relationship with that woman and that he went out that afternoon with the intention of speaking with the ex-husband.
Source: El País