La jueza archiva provisionalmente la causa por homicidio en Los Castros

The Juzgado de Primera Instancia e Instrucción número 5 de Santander has decided to provisionally dismiss the case regarding the alleged homicide of a 63-year-old man who was found dead in January 2024 with apparent signs of violence inside a car in a building garage on Avenida de los Castros in the city, as there are currently «insufficient data to identify the perpetrators.»

This decision was communicated by the presiding judge, Mercedes Compostizo, in a ruling dated April 14 and consulted by Europa Press. The provisional closure of the proceedings is «without prejudice to their subsequent reopening,» pending the results of genetic studies from samples taken from or belonging to the deceased, requested by the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences in Madrid in January and April of this year.

The case may be reopened based on ongoing investigations by the National Police «to determine the author or authors of the violent death of the man,» who, according to the ruling, died on «January 7 or 8,» although the body was found on the 10th. The ruling states that the actions taken so far suggest that the events could constitute an alleged homicide.

The ruling can be challenged through a motion for reconsideration within three days of notification to the parties or through an appeal, which allows for five days.

### DISCOVERY

The body was discovered around 11:00 on January 10, 2024, at the address 137 Avenida de Los Castros in Santander. Police officers arrived at the scene following the report and initiated investigations to clarify what had happened.

No arrests have been made in connection to the case so far, and the judicial authority imposed a gag order on the investigation, which was lifted at the end of December last year.

The Judicial and Scientific Police forces, the Citizen Assistance Group, and the National Police’s Prevention and Response Unit also responded to the crime scene.

FUENTE