Euro Weekly News | Could 20 men could be planning murder? | Spain | News | The Largest English Language Newspapers in Spain: "Right now, up to 20 men could be thinking about killing their wives,” claimed Miguel Lorente from the central government’s Domestic Violence ministry. Lorente, who is also a forensic expert, said that the claim was based on hard facts – Spain’s average of five victims a month – as well as by inference, which was backed by a steep rise in copycat killings.
“This is no-one’s fault but everybody’s responsibility,” declared Lorente, who believes society was faced with a “moral criminal” whose convoluted opinions and biased arguments created a build-up of resentment.
It was not unreasonable to assume the existence of a group of men who harboured thoughts of murder, 40 per cent of whom would later commit suicide or attempt to, Lorente said.
“That’s what I want to see,” future murderers told themselves as they plotted a partner’s death, spurred on by media images of a dead victim in the street, a heartbroken mother and disconsolate friends
Lorente cited the case of a woman killed by hammer blows by her male partner from Guinea-Bissau on Setpember 10 which. Five days later a Spanish man in La Coruña killed his wife, from whom he was separated, in the same manner.
Fifty-two women have lost their lives through gender-based violence so far this year, with another three suspected cases currently under investigation. This indicates a 25 per cent increase on last year, although 2009’s total was the lowest for a decade."