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ISSUE NO. 1760
28 March - 3 April 2019
Julen appeal rejected A JUDGE presiding over an investigation into the death of two-year-old Julen has rejected an appeal by the owner of the land where the boy fell in January. The head of the Malaga court where the negligent manslaughter case is taking place, rejected David Serrano’s appeal over a request to admit further evidence. The Provincial Court will now have the final say on the matter after Serrano’s lawyers requested further tests to back up his claims Julen could have been killed by rescue attempts after falling down a 71-metre hole on the man’s land in Totalan. The court has now rejected the request twice, saying it was important to hear all expert testimony first. Antonio Flores, one of Serrano’s lawyers, alleged a report compiled by his company shows Julen could have been killed by initial efforts to reach him. He claims the child could have been killed by a long instrument reportedly used by rescuers to try to move a presumed blockage in the well, and which turned out to be where Julen had landed. During the trial, the three hikers who assisted the family after Julen fell have told a judge the well was not visible to the naked eye. They also claimed they do not remember seeing concrete blocks near the opening, which David Serrano claimed he had put over the hole.
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‘Potential ecological disaster’ by Sally Underwood ENVIRONMENTALISTS have expressed concern over the reported high amount of waste found on the seabed off Nerja’s coast. A recent study by the Gaurdia Civil’s environment section, SEPRONA, suggests there could be up to nine tonnes of baby wipes alone accumulating 50 metres under water. Organisation Ecologistas in Accion Andalucia sent a boat of scientists out with police over five days to comb the seabed, and say what they found constitutes, ‘a potential environmental disaster.’ The Public Prosecutor’s Office and SEPRONA are currently investigating the claims under ‘Operation Vastum,’ following complaints from Ecologistas in Accion Andalucia in 2017. The environmental group claimed there were ‘serious irregularities,’ with the urban wastewater being pumped untreated into the sea in Nerja. A representative from the group, Antonio Amarillo, told Spanish media: “[The waste] ranges from the infamous wipes to ear buds, faeces, detergents, drugs and oils. That is to say, everything which people throw down the toilet
ENVIRONMENT CONCERNS: Groups are worried over an ecological report into Nerja’s coast. at their houses goes to the coast. [There is] also waste from the activities carried out in industrial estates or companies locally.” Amarillo’s colleague, Rafael Yus, explained the waste can harm marine fauna in the protected ecosystem, as well as causing potential problems for humans. He said some bacteria in faeces is capable of speading diseases including dysentery. At Nerja Council, politicians have also expressed concerns over the issue, with
Izquierda Unida councillor Anabel Iranzo, and EVA Podemos representative Cristina Fernandez reportedly considering the Junta de Andalucia responsible. The town’s mayor, Rosa
Arrabal, is said to share their view and has warned the situation must change. Locals are quick to point out Nerja’s beaches are still clean, however. Jose Miguel Ortuño, head of one of the
town’s residents associations, told Spanish media: “Every morning I walk along them and enjoy the transparent water. There are no remains floating in the water day to day.”