SUMMER’S HERE: Our pick of the best secret beaches on the Costa Blanca
See pages 10 - 11
OLIVE PRESS
The
COSTA BLANCA
tel: 966 46 38 45
WWW.JAVEABLINDS.COM
FREE
TM
c t
Tel: 952 147 834
t o
c o n d i t i o n s .
See page 13 o n s .TM
E n d s
3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 .
voice in Spain
In the clear
SPAIN’S COVID-infections have tripled since July 3. They have risen from 8.76 for every 100,000 inhabitants to an alarming 27.39. This is the same number of cases as when Spain first began de-escalation in May. Aragon, Catalunya and the Basque Country have all experienced outbreaks. Controls have been E put n dins place, 3 1while / 1 2some / 1 9 . confinement measures have been issued. Wear it or pay up! P5
21/6/19 13:30
Cashback
CONSUMERS’ group has demanded action to make airlines speed up refunds for cancelled flights due to COVID-19. It claims that many of the E n d s 3 1 / 1 2 / 1 9 . victims are ‘suffering serious financial and emotional distress’ as they struggle to claim refunds for flights. 21/6/19 13:30 The group has compiled a dossier of more than 14,000 refund complaints that it has now handed over to the UK’s Civil Aviation AuthoriSALES & RENTALS SPECIALISTS ty (CAA) as part of its review Moriara•Calpe•Jalon•Javea•Denia•Altea of how airlines have handled cancellations. They are collectively worth more than €5.6 million. www.moraira-hamiltons.net 21/6/19 13:30 Which?
o n s .
expat
Vol. 2 Issue 35 www.theolivepress.es July 23rd - August 5th 2020
Corona comeback
TM
Your
96 649 1883
Destination Relaxation
Properties to rent and buy in the sunny Costa Blanca
We have beautiful homes for sale and luxury villas to rent Commission fee is only €2500 tel: (+34) 965 074 546 | email: info@azul-homes.co.uk www.azul-homes.co.uk
But the family of tragic Kirsty Maxwell slam ‘flawed’ investigation and ‘disgusting’ way five men have been found innocent of her death
THE family of a young holidaymaker who fell to her death from an apartment in Benidorm have slammed a court’s ruling not to appeal her death. They are convinced five Brits on holiday caused Kirsty Maxwell’s death in April, 2017. A private detective who looked into the case described the decision as flawed. However, a panel of judges in Alicante ruled that there was no ‘strong evidence’ of criminality. They added there was nothing to indicate the 27-yearold, from Scotland, had not jumped to her death following an alcohol-fuelled hen night with friends. The five lads on holiday, all from Nottingham, were accused of spiking her with cocaine and pushing her to her death. She had mistakenly entered a 10th floor room at the Apartamentos Payma hotel, instead of her friends’ neighbouring apartment.
By Andy McInnes & Dilip Kuner
It comes after Kirsty’s grieving family hired retired CID detective David Swindle to conduct their own investigation into after vital evidence was lost and police failed to preserve the scene of the investigation from contamination.
Shortcoming
Mr Swindle, concluded the investigation was seriously ‘flawed’ and added it was ‘disgusting’ the family had to find out through the media that there would be no further probe. He said: “There has been no consideration given to Kirsty’s family in this, and for them to find out like this has compounded their grief. It is disgusting. “The family has been let down just as they have been let down throughout the investigation. The Spanish police did not manage the scene, significant
witnesses, exhibits and evidence as would be expected for such a tragic loss of a young life in unexplained, confusing circumstances. “Kirsty and her family appear to have been let down by apparent irretrievable shortcomings in Spanish police, forensic and crime investigation procedures which may have resulted in evidence being lost.” Kirsty’s parents Brian and Denise Curry had appealed a Spanish judge’s decision last September to shelve a criminal probe into her death. The three judges based at Section Two of Alicante’s Provincial Court ruled that she was ‘affected by alcohol’ and after consuming the equivalent of 10 spirits the night before, appears to have left her apartment 9A and voluntarily entered 10E where the five men were. “Nothing points to the contrary,” it said. “Although it is true cocaine was found in the bathroom and the dead woman’s fingerprints were discov-
SAD: Kirsty and hotel ered on an interior bathroom window, it has not been possible to obtain strong evidence of specific and individualised criminality.” The five men - Joseph Graham, Ricky Gammon, Anthony Holehouse, Callum Northridge and Daniel Bailey - will not face any further charges. Their lawyer, Roberto Sanchez, said: “I am very happy with the court decision and I imagine my clients are looking forward to putting all this behind them.” Kirsty’s dad blasted the decision, saying: “We were not told the appeal had been lost, and now we are having to go to the court to find out what has happened. For us not to have been shown the courtesy of being kept informed is appalling. “All we have asked for is the truth and yet again the opportunity to get to the heart of what happened to Kirsty has been denied to us.” Opinion P6