Judge dismisses complaint by Begoña Gómez against Vito Quiles over alleged assault
The Majadahonda court concludes that video recordings do not prove "manhandling" or that Quiles put his arm around Gómez. The case is closed.
Majadahonda judge dismisses case against Vito Quiles
A court in Majadahonda (Madrid) has dismissed a complaint filed by Begoña Gómez, wife of the Spanish Prime Minister, against well-known activist Vito Quiles over an alleged assault that occurred in a bar on the outskirts of the capital, where Gómez was with a group of friends. This is reported by El Mundo.
In the ruling, the judge notes that the classification of events as a crime, when they affect a public figure, depends on the seriousness of the conduct and the manner in which the reported intrusion occurred. After reviewing the video recordings provided to the proceedings, the judge concludes that no "manhandling" is proven nor that Quiles "put his arm around the complainant".
The judge acknowledges that the images show how the accused entered the establishment with the intention of approaching Gómez, repeatedly asking her questions without waiting for a response. However, the ruling highlights that it was Gómez who "left the premises immediately" and that one of her companions "pushed away the accused".
That companion, identified as Blanca María De Juan de Castro, had also filed a complaint for injuries allegedly caused by Quiles. The judge likewise dismisses that accusation: after viewing the video recordings sent by the police, he concludes that "the objective existence of such injuries could not be proven".
Quiles himself circulated an edited video on social media that did not show what happened inside the establishment, but only the altercation afterwards, when Gómez managed to leave the premises. In those images it can be seen how Quiles pursues her without stopping the verbal harassment, loudly asking her about her adviser at Moncloa, while she tries to ignore him and talks on the phone.
Several people in Gómez's circle try to stop the recording in that sequence. According to what is seen in the video circulated by Quiles, one of them asks him to remove "that shit", in reference to the camera, and immediately afterwards grabs him around the neck from behind. He responds with the phrases "don't hit me" and "stop".
Juan Gonzalo Ospina, the lawyer defending Quiles, celebrated the dismissal of the case in statements to news agency EFE.
Source: El Mundo