Several hundred people have gathered in the Plaza de San Sebastián in Antequera to express their outrage at the murder of a 29-year-old woman by her partner, who subsequently committed suicide. The Town Hall has declared two days of official mourning.
The Málaga town of Antequera experienced a day of grief and unity on Wednesday following the gender-based crime that ended the life of a 29-year-old neighbour, who was allegedly stabbed by her partner. The assailant, a 31-year-old man, committed suicide by jumping from the wall of the Alcazaba. The events occurred last Monday, but it was on Wednesday that the city demonstrated its outrage en masse.
The Plaza de San Sebastián, in the heart of the historic centre, hosted a large gathering called by the Town Hall. Neighbours, family members of the victim, the entire municipal corporation, and representatives from the security forces observed a minute of silence in memory of the deceased. Tourists strolling in the area also joined, as confirmed by the Town Hall.
Previously, the Town Hall held an extraordinary session in which an institutional declaration condemning the murder was unanimously approved. All political groups supported the text, which describes the crime as “an intolerable act of gender-based violence.” The mayor, Manuel Barón (PP), emphasised that the unity shown by the different parties is “a symbol of Antequera's firmness against this scourge.”
Barón expressed his “pain and solidarity” with the families of both the victim and the assailant, both from the municipality. In statements to the media, he particularly lamented that the crime leaves two children aged 4 and 7 orphaned, children of the couple. “The Town Hall will be by their side to help them with whatever they need,” the mayor assured.
The mayor defended that gender-based violence is a reality “that cannot be denied or manipulated” and reminded that it affects all of society, but “especially women, who are the victims.” Barón called for unity among citizens to eradicate this type of violence.
One of the most emotional moments of the gathering came with the speech of Laura Jiménez, cousin of the deceased. Visibly affected, she questioned the functioning of the comprehensive monitoring system for cases of gender violence (VioGén). According to her complaint, the victim had withdrawn her complaint against her assailant days before the crime, and no one contacted her to verify whether she did so freely or under duress. “It cannot be allowed for a woman to withdraw her complaint without checking if it is of her own volition or if she is being pressured,” she criticised.
The Town Hall of Antequera declared Tuesday and Wednesday as official days of mourning in sign of grief for the murder. During these two days, the flags of the Town Hall and other public buildings have flown at half-mast. Additionally, festive events planned for those days have been suspended.
This crime raises the number of women murdered by gender violence in Spain to 24 so far this year, according to data from the Government Delegation against Gender Violence. In the province of Málaga, it is the second confirmed case in 2026.
The gathering on Wednesday was the first of the planned mobilisations in the region. More acts of condemnation are expected in other municipalities in the interior of the province, such as Archidona or Campillos, in the coming days. The Town Hall of Antequera has announced that it will keep psychological support resources active for the family and friends of the victim, as well as for neighbours who need it.
The mayor insisted that “the fight against gender-based violence cannot have political colours” and called for strengthened protection mechanisms for women victims. “We cannot fail them,” he concluded.
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