By David Eade – Costa del Sol News
The parents of 13-year-old María Esther Jiménez Villegas received a shock when they arrived at Málaga court for the second day of the trial of the alleged killer of their child last Thursday. The judge ordered that seventeen-year-old Rubén ‘El Vaca’ be released from detention as minors can only be held for a set period of time. For the period of the trial he will live in a supervised apartment and is banned from visiting Arriate where the murder took place and his family lives.
María Esther was murdered at the end of January and Rubén ‘El Vaca’ was arrested in February. He was held in preventative detention for six months by order of the court and that was extended for another three months. The lawyer representing her family says they are now satisfied with the arrangements and that he cannot approach them or any witnesses.
The prosecutor and the family lawyer are both seeking an eight year jail term for the accused, the maximum allowed by the Ley del Menor. They are also seeking a further five years during which he will be free but his movements and actions will be monitored.
Rubén ‘El Vaca’ declared his innocence at the start of the trial on Wednesday. However the prosecutor says he is guilty and more and more evidence proving his guilt is being provided all the time. He was arrested by police just two weeks after María Esther was found battered to death in the pump house of a swimming pool on rustic land behind the village of Arriate on January 20.
BENAOJÁN RESCUE
On Saturday the fire service had to undertake a rescue when a 27-year-old climber was involved in an accident in Benaoján. He had slipped and fallen leaving him suspended some 70 metres in the air. His climbing companion called the emergency service who rescued the climber from the site on the Vía Ferrata some 100 metres from the village.
ECONOMIC CRISIS
Ronda is in economic crisis. Unemployment now stands at 4,728 people. In addition the Mercedes Benz concession has closed down and the SEAT dealer has not paid its staff since August so they are protesting in the street. The municipal radio station’s staff are unpaid with many other companies in difficulties and laid off workers say the town hall isn’t interested in them.
PIGGING OUT
Guardia Civil have arrested four people in Gaucín, Benaoján and Cortes de la Frontera for stealing pigs. They’re also accused of forcing entry into the premises of a pig centre in Benarrabá where the animals were housed. They were arrested in the company of a fifth person after the van used in the thefts had broken down after being involved in an accident.
BAD STATE
Rural development agency CEDER has carried out an inventory of scenic areas in the Serranía de Ronda that have been left to deteriorate. It found that 109 areas are in a poor state and is allocating over 800,000 euros to have them restored. In many cases rubbish including builders’ waste has been dumped there. The project will take a year to be completed.
CORTES ACCOUNTS
The socialist group at troubled Cortes de la Frontera town hall has cast doubts on the accounts presented by the mayor Antonio Granero. After an external audit, the former Partido Andalucista mayor who has been dumped by his party says the deficit is over 9.4 million euros. PSOE says that in 2008 the municipal accounts were positive and cannot have deteriorated so quickly.
TOP PARADOR
Ronda along with Jaén have been voted on the internet as the best two Parador hotels in Spain. The Ronda hotel was singled out because of its stunning views of the Tajo gorge, one of the most visited sites in Andalucía. They also appreciated the fact the hotel created in the shell of the former town hall is in the centre of town.
LEGION HONOUR
Ronda, home to the Tercio Alejandro Farnesio 4 regiment of the Legion, has been named a “Legionnaire of honour”. The military unit has been stationed in Ronda for 30 years and various commemorative events have been held. In the presence of the mayor a street within the barracks was named after the town and a statue with both coats of arms was unveiled.
