Supreme Court Imposes Life Sentence on Serial Killer Jorge Ignacio Palma for the Murders of Women
The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court has delivered a decisive ruling in the case of Jorge Ignacio Palma, sentencing him to a permanent revisable prison term for the murders of three women, including Marta Calvo, and increasing the compensation owed to the parents of Calvo to 140,000 euros. This landmark decision also culminated in an overall prison sentence of 137 years for Palma, who was implicated in a series of murders and attempted murders involving cocaine-fueled sexual encounters between June 2018 and November 2019.
The Supreme Court's ruling partially overturned the decisions made by the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, which had originally imposed a single sentence for all three murders. The high court had declined to apply the permanent revisable sentence for Calvo's murder despite calls for it from the private prosecution. However, the Supreme Court found that Palma, having prior convictions for murder, met the criteria established by Article 140.2 of the Penal Code. This provision allows for such severe penalties when a convict has killed multiple individuals in a similar context.
The case against Palma unveiled a harrowing pattern of predatory behavior in which he arranged meetings with vulnerable women to provide paid sexual services. He is accused of administering substantial quantities of cocaine into their bodies through non-consensual means, which led to the deaths of three victims and nearly resulted in the fatalities of six others. The latter group managed to reach hospitals for urgent care, thus escaping the severe effects of the drugs that ultimately claimed the lives of the deceased.
Significantly, the Supreme Court clarified that prior convictions for murder do not have to be final before applying a permanent revisable prison sentence. In what can be categorized as a serial killing scenario, Palma is deemed a lethal predator who exhibited a compulsive need to kill, committing these acts with complete disregard for the lives of his victims.
Specifically addressing the case of Marta Calvo, the court noted the aggravating circumstance of gender violence, emphasizing Palma's targeting of women involved in prostitution, a demographic particularly vulnerable to exploitation and criminal acts. His full awareness of the potential consequences of his actions, evidenced by his prior murders before Calvo, highlighted the cold calculations that underpinned his criminal conduct.
The Supreme Court's decision underscores the gravity of Palma's crimes and reflects a broader commitment to address violent crimes against women—particularly through the lens of gender-related violence. The ruling reasserts the importance of holding serial offenders accountable and sets a precedent for how the law may approach similar cases in the future. This case represents a significant step in championing justice for victims and reaffirming the legal system's role in tackling egregious crimes against vulnerable populations.
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