Charlie Smith
A FORMER soldier has shot dead his wife with a rifle before killing himself in the street outside his ex-wife’s home.
The 47-year-old woman, known as Elena, is Spain’s latest victim of sexist violence after being gunned down by her husband, Juan, 67.
Witnesses said the ex-army man, who was ‘fond of hunting’, shot Elena on the terrace of the pair’s Malaga home, and used the same weapon to end his own life.
Juan is believed to have children with his ex-wife, whose property he killed himself in front of.
The husband and wife, who lived in Cortes de la Frontera, were about to go out for lunch in San Pedro, before the horrific double shooting.
Police were called to a home near Gaucin Train Station in the town of just 500 residents at 1:30pm on Wednesday, following reports of a shooting and a suicide.
Autopsies are currently being carried out, while the Guardia Civil is investigating.
Police sources told Diario Sur that there were no complaints of domestic abuse between the couple, who married a few months ago in a civil partnership.
One neighbour said: ‘I do not understand how a human being can do such a thing’, while another revealed Elena and Juan were due to be ‘at a BBQ’ today.
Politicians also reacted to the grim events, with Prime Minister calling for ‘an end’ to female violence, while Andalucia President Juanma Moreno said society should ‘stay united in the fight against gender violence’.
This is the 1,007th case of gender violence since 2003 when records started being taken.
