A man accused of attempting to kill the female owner of a bar in Santiago del Teide, Tenerife, has claimed in court that he was acting in self-defence after allegedly being attacked with a kitchen knife.
During a trial held on Monday (26th May) at the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the 67-year-old defendant denied any intent to harm and alleged the French woman running the bar had provoked the incident, insulted him, and physically attacked him first.
Prosecutors, however, are seeking an 11-year prison sentence and compensation of €65,000, plus medical costs, for what they claim was a deliberate attempt to kill. The victim suffered a knife wound to the neck that, according to a forensic expert, was deep enough to reach the trachea and could have been fatal.
The incident occurred on the night of 27th February 2023, after what the victim described as a dispute over payment. She said the man refused to pay for a drink, calling it overpriced, and later verbally abused her before following her outside, grabbing her by the neck, and stabbing her from behind.
"I saw the blood and thought I was going to die," she told the court. She called out for her husband, who, along with others, managed to restrain the attacker until police arrived. She was taken to hospital and says the attack has left her with ongoing anxiety and a visible scar.
Defence Challenges Prosecution
The defence argued the accused was under the influence of alcohol and acted in self-defence after the bar owner allegedly slashed his arm. His lawyer questioned the absence of CCTV footage and claimed it was implausible that the man, who uses crutches due to a past leg operation, could have pursued and attacked the woman as described.
The accused also claimed the bar owner discriminated against him for being Spanish, stating she “only wants tourists, not Spaniards, in her bar.”
Witnesses Offer Conflicting Accounts
A customer told the court the defendant had made threatening remarks upon entering the bar, allegedly saying: “It’s going to be a dark night. I’m going to cut that woman’s throat.” However, he left shortly after and did not witness the incident itself.
Another witness, a barman, described the man as a regular who had never caused problems before but noted that he was visibly agitated that evening. He claimed the accused gestured as if to slit someone’s throat shortly before the attack.
A forensic report confirmed the neck wound was consistent with an attempt to cause fatal injury, while a psychologist who assessed the victim nearly a year later noted psychological impact but said no formal diagnosis or ongoing treatment had been documented.
The case continues.
