Voted Best
ISSUE NO. 1757
7 - 13 March 2019
Newspaper in Spain 2017 & 2018
A XARQUÍA - C OSTA T ROPICAL YOUR PAPER, YOUR VOICE, YOUR OPINION
WWW.EUROWEEKLYNEWS.COM
Captain defends rescue team THE captain of the Guardia Civil has strongly defended the professionalism of the team who battled to reach Julen, following allegations rescue attempts could have harmed the boy. Salvador Jimenez told Spanish media he had not heard the allegations made by David Serrano, the owner of the plot where Julen fell down a borehole in January, but praised the work of rescuers. At a court case investigating possible negligent manslaughter, Serrano’s lawyers told a court two-year-old Julen could have been killed by initial efforts to reach him. The defence team have handed the court a report claiming the child could have been alive after his 71-metre fall and instead killed by a long instrument reportedly used by rescuers to try to move a presumed blockage in the well. Lawyers claimed hairs allegedly found on the tool could show it had harmed the boy’s head. The Malaga court is now investigating the claims but sources told Spanish media the hypothesis is unlikely since no blood is
Credit: Guardia Civil
by Sally Underwood
IN COURT: David Serrano claims Julen could have been killed during the rescue operation (pictured). said to have been found on the instrument. David Serrano is so far the only person who has officially been named as under investigation, while several others have been called as witnesses, including Antonio Sanchez, the man who reportedly drilled the borehole.
According to Serrano’s lawyers, the investigation could later widen to include others. Also appearing as witnesses are Julen’s parents, Jose Rosello and Victoria Sanchez, David Serrano’s wife, and three hikers who were in the area when the incident occurred and who
Disney remake PRODUCERS of a live action remake of The Little Mermaid are said to be considering filming in Axarquia. According to Spanish media, film-makers spent three weeks in the area scouting for possible locations and politicians are optimistic the classic could be shot locally.
Officials are said to have recommended locations including beaches in Maro, the Cuevas del Tesoro in La Cala del Moral, the Nerja Ca v es , B en aja ra fe , a nd Torre del Mar. Juan Peñas, a tourism spokesman, said: “[Disney is] one of the most powerful studios in the film industry.” Actresses tipped to star in
the re ma ke inc lude B e lla Thorne and filming could reportedly begin as early as 2020.
were the first to help the family. Engineers and members of the Guardia Civil team first called to help will also be asked to testify. Serrano reportedly claimed Antonio Sachez left the borehole uncovered after drilling and that he later covered the hole himself with concrete blocks.
Online abuse A LAWYER for Julen’s parents has denounced messages allegedly mocking the couple on social media. Lawyer Antonia Barba claimed Victoria Garcia and Jose Rosello have been subject to offensive remarks and has called for privacy and repsect. Official complaints have reportedly been made against three social network users whom members of the National Police are thought to have already identified. Ms Barba also criticised some online outlets for publishing information she claims is false. The lawyer told Spanish media: “It is not that the parents are trawling social networks or the internet in search of these types of comments. They come to them through other people and they just want to be respected.”