Torrevieja officer convicted for punching woman in face

A TORREVIEJA police officer has been convicted of punching a female driver in the face during a case of ‘road rage.’ Officer Ricardo MB was given a 500 meter restraining order from the victim’s home and workplace for six months, a €720 fine and €440 in compensation to the victim.

The ruling is not final and is being appealed by the officer who believes this should be a civilian matter since the incident occurred when he was off-duty.

According to court statements, in June last year Maria Angeles HG was driving along Avenida de Ricardo Lafuente when the car stalled. Ricardo, who was driving the car behind her, tooted his horn.

After she was able to restart the car, he overtook her and stopped abruptly, got out and began to argue with her and then he punched her breaking her glasses.

She defended herself with a Nunchaku – a two poled martial arts weapon – that she had in her car, to which Ricardo responded by grabbing her by the arm to restrain her.

Two witnesses, the officer’s brother and a fellow officer, claimed that it was the woman who attacked the officer first, hitting him with the Nunchaku on the back.

They were deemed to be witnesses of “questionable reliability” due to “kinship and friendship” and to conflicting statements as to the location of the attack.

Forensic evidence revealed no injuries to the officer’s back, but there were bruises on his knuckles.

The officer is the brother of the mayor of the local police.