Trial starts in Nerja waitress murder case

THE family of the woman allegedly killed by her ex-boyfriend in Nerja is not satisfied with the 26-year sentence being sought by the prosecution.

The defence is asking for the case to be thrown out of court, while the victim’s family and friends intend to request that he serves his whole sentence in his country of origin, “so Spain doesn’t have to pay for the prison stay of a criminal” his lawyer said.

They are also seeking €420,000 in compensation. The trial began yesterday (Wednesday) against Moroccan citizen Hicham Bellasfer, 30, who has been in prison since he was arrested.

He is accused of stabbing his Argentinean ex-girlfriend, Cecilia, aged 25, in September 2008 18 times while she was setting tables at the bar where she worked at the Balcon de Europa.

He admitted to police that he had stabbed her with a knife he left by her body. Just minutes earlier, she had arrived accompanied by the Local Police.

Bellasfer had allegedly called a friend telling him he intended to kill the woman with whom he had had a relationship between 2005 and 2007. He had reportedly subjected her to constant abuse until she split up with him in 2008.

She had allegedly been to his home just a month earlier where they had argued and he punched her in the face and attempted to strangle her.

Just days later, he approached her at the beach, stole her phone and erased all the intimidating messages he had sent her, before threatening her once again.

An arrest warrant was issued against him but he could not be located. A week before her death, the victim told the Local Police she feared for her life and was escorted whenever she went out.

Waiters from another bar were the first to attend to the woman who was still alive when paramedics arrived, but they were unable to save her.

By Jennifer Leighfield