Laurence Dollimore
IT was rape.
That is the ruling of Spain’s Supreme Court this afternoon in the highly controversial La Manada case.
It comes after the group of five men, which include a Guardia Civil officer, were convicted of ‘sexual abuse’ after they attacked an 18-year-old girl during the Pamplona bull running festival in 2016.
In the sickening attack, the so-called ‘Wolfpack’, all from Sevilla, took turns committing anal, vaginal and oral rape on the young tourist while one recorded the ordeal on their phone.
But after a controversial trial, judges in Navarra found the five men – Antonio Manuel Guerrero, Jesus Escudero, Jose Angel Prenda, Alfonso Jesus Cabezuelo and Angel Boza – guilty of ‘sexual abuse’, not rape.
The ruling in April last year sparked huge protests and inspired women’s rights movements across the country.
But following an appeal from prosecutors, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously today that the men committed rape.
The judges of the highest court in the land blasted the previous ruling by the Superior Court of Justice of Navarra in its judgement.
They increased each of the offenders’ sentences to 15 years in prison, a six year increase.
