Unanimous Verdict in Cantabria Court

The jury of the Provincial Court of Cantabria has unanimously declared José Reñones guilty of the murder of his eleven-month-old daughter and his partner, Eva Jaular. The jury, after deliberating for about six hours, unanimously concluded that Reñones killed his partner and his baby in a situation of defenselessness, in a “machista domination” act.

The jury members consider that The defendant attacked Eva Jaular “by surprise” and, in addition to stinging her, he inflicted “an added pain when he hit her brutally.” They also understood that Reñones committed these facts “in full faculties.”

Sentencing and Legal Proceedings

All parties have maintained their request for penalty. For the murder of his partner, the Public Ministry asks for 25 years in prison and for the murder of the daughter, permanent imprisonment, while the defense insists on a free acquittal.

On December 17, 2021, the Civil Guard found the lifeless bodies of Eva Jaular and her baby at home after receiving a complaint from her relatives for her disappearance. José Reñones, who had a restraining order, was arrested hours later in the shipyard as the main suspect of the double crime.

From the beginning, the investigation pointed out that Reñones had violated the restraining order to enter the house and commit the murders. During the instruction, incriminating evidence was discovered, such as threatening messages in which he expressed his intention to end the life of his daughter and his ex-partner.

A Trial Marked by Forceful Evidence

The trial began in February 2025 with a popular jury. The prosecutor presented as evidence WhatsApp conversations in which the defendant insulted and threatened his ex-partner and his daughter. In one of the messages, written three months before the crime, he warned: “Any day stabbed the girl.”

“I don’t want her. I hate her. I want to see her dead,” the defendant said in reference to his daughter, which, according to the prosecutor, evidenced that “he never wanted it” and that he hated “since he was born.” The girl’s mother, also a victim of the crime, came to answer: “Before you kill the girl, I’m going ahead. I will kill me now.”

During the trial, the accusation maintained that Reñones violated the restraining order on December 16, 2021, and, after committing the murders, remained in the house with the bodies. Forensic reports were also exposed that evidenced the brutality of the crime and the absence of any mental pathology that could exempt him from criminal responsibility.

The Defendant’s Version: “I Didn’t Kill Them”

In his statement, José Reñones denied having committed the murders, ensuring that he did not enter his ex-partner’s house that day. However, forensic evidence and geolocation records of his mobile phone, to which the defendant said he did not find an explanation, placed him in the house at the time of the crime.

Throughout the interrogation, which lasted more than two hours, He has admitted that he has done “many bad things,” of which he is considered “guilty” and for which he has expressed a “I’m very sorry,” and he asked him to “count” for that.

He has thus referred to the treatment of his sentimental partner and the attitude towards the little girl, with death desires and threats and insults and expressions of hate and derogatory, and has justified because it is a “mouthwitable,” but “I did not want the death of my daughter,” he said.

The defense alleged lack of conclusive evidence and requested its acquittal, but the jury considered its guilt proven.

Resources for Victims of Domestic Violence

The phone 016 serves all victims of sexist violence 24 hours a day and in 53 different languages, as well as mail 016-online@igualdad.gob.es; Attention is also paid via WhatsApp through the number 600000016, and minors can go to the ANAR 900 20 20 10.

In an emergency situation, you can call 112 or the National Police (091) and the Civil Guard (062) and if you cannot call you can resort to the alertcops application, from which an alert signal to the police with geolocation is sent.

Implications and Lessons Learned

The case of José Reñones highlights the critical importance of restraining orders and the enforcement of domestic violence laws. In the United States, similar cases have underscored the need for stricter penalties and more robust support systems for victims. For instance, the case of De’Asia Hughes, a young mother who was murdered by her ex-boyfriend in 2019, led to significant reforms in domestic violence laws in Tennessee. The state implemented stricter penalties for violators of restraining orders and increased funding for domestic violence shelters.

Expert analysis suggests that the prevalence of domestic violence is a global issue, with the United Nations estimating that one in three women worldwide experience physical or sexual violence from an intimate partner. In the U.S., the National Domestic Violence Hotline reports that one in four women and one in nine men experience severe intimate partner physical violence, intimate partner contact sexual violence, and/or intimate partner stalking with impacts such as injury, fearfulness, post-traumatic stress disorder, use of victim services, and concerns for safety.

Counterarguments and Future Directions

Critics argue that the focus on individual cases often overshadows systemic issues that contribute to domestic violence. While stricter penalties and enforcement are crucial, addressing the root causes, such as societal attitudes towards gender roles and economic disparities, is equally important. Organizations like the National Network to End Domestic Violence advocate for comprehensive approaches that include education, economic empowerment, and policy reforms.

Future research should explore the effectiveness of different intervention strategies, including community-based programs and technological solutions like geolocation tracking and emergency alert systems. Additionally, more studies are needed to understand the psychological and social factors that drive domestic violence, particularly in cases involving children.