The accused was euthanized before trial

A man paralyzed in a shooting that killed four people was euthanized in Spain on Tuesday, ahead of his trial, in an unprecedented decision in a country where the right to die took precedence over legal action.

“According to the euthanasia scheduled for today (Tuesday), Mr. Marin Eugene Sabu died at 6:30 p.m. (4:30 GMT) at the Terrassa Hospital in northeastern Spain,” his lawyer announced. Advertisement

Marin Eugen Sabou, 46, a Romanian security guard, shot and killed three colleagues and a police officer in December, injuring many, but not killing anyone, and was also shot in the spine in Tarragona (northeast). He was paralyzed.

The man dubbed the “Tarragona shooter” by the Spanish press said he acted because he was living “hell” at work and accused his employers of racism.

He was in a bed in the Terrassa prison hospital near Barcelona and demanded the right to die.

“I am disabled. I have 45 points in hand. I can’t move my left arm. I have screws (in my body) and no longer feel my chest,” he explained to a Targona court judge who ruled in his favor in early July.

The court did not oppose his request for euthanasia, observing in early July that it was a “fundamental right” and that “the law does not specifically regulate euthanasia when it concerns persons under pre-trial detention. In judicial proceedings”.

Lawyers for the civil parties have asked for an investigation to ensure that the accused pay compensation to the victims.

“The victims have a feeling of despair: we allow a person to decide when and how he ends the legal proceedings,” said José Antonio Bitos, the lawyer of the two police officers injured (one by bullets). )

“We are not against euthanasia per se, but it happens before the trial”, he insisted, regretting not being able to see “this gentleman sitting in the dock”.

He pointed out that if his clients received compensation from the public administration because he was injured in the service, the other victims of the shooting would have “no trial or compensation.”

Following the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, the law authorizing euthanasia came into effect in Spain on June 25, 2021.