This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-50257922

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Five men acquitted of gang-raping teenager in Spain Spanish anger as five men acquitted of gang-raping teenager
(about 8 hours later)
A court in Barcelona has acquitted five men accused of gang-raping a 14 year old girl of the charge of sexual assault. A Barcelona court's decision to acquit five men accused of gang-raping a 14-year-old girl of the charge of sexual assault has provoked outrage.
The men were convicted and jailed for the lesser crime of sexual abuse. The court ruled out rape because the victim was in an "unconscious state" and the accused had not used violence or intimidation.
Under Spanish law, an offence can only be considered rape or sexual assault if physical force or intimidation is used. This is a requirement under Spanish law for a charge of sexual assault, which is legally the equivalent of rape.
The court ruled they had not committed rape because the victim was in an "unconscious state" and they did not need to use violence. Instead, they were convicted and jailed for the lesser crime of sexual abuse.
The decision comes despite Spain's Supreme Court reversing a similar ruling earlier this year. The five were sentenced to between 10 and 12 years in prison. A conviction for sexual assault would have carried prison sentences of between 15 and 20 years.
There is also an ongoing review into the law. A review is currently taking place in Spain to decide whether to base rape cases on a woman's explicit consent to sex.
Six defendants were initially charged. The five who were convicted were sentenced to between 10 and 12 years in prison. A number of European countries have changed their laws in recent years to define rape as sex without consent. Sweden changed the law last year and Denmark is doing the same.
A more serious conviction of sexual assault would have carried prison sentences of between 15 and 20 years. The Barcelona verdict comes despite a ruling in a similar case by the Spanish Supreme Court upgrading a conviction from sexual abuse to sexual assault.
Women's rights groups have reacted to the ruling with anger and dismay. What reaction has there been?
Barcelona's Mayor Ada Colau denounced it as an "outrageous sentence" on Twitter.
"I am not a judge and I do not know how many years in prison they deserve, what I do know is that it is not abuse, it is rape!"
Warning: Some readers may find details of this story disturbingWarning: Some readers may find details of this story disturbing
The men were found guilty of abusing the girl during a drinking session known in Spanish as a botellón at a disused factory in Manresa, a town in the north-eastern region of Catalonia, in October 2016. Women's rights groups have similarly reacted to the ruling with anger and dismay. Furious social media users have been commenting on the case under hashtags like JusticiaPatriarcal (Patriarchal Justice) and NoEsAbusoEsViolacion (It's not abuse it's rape).
The case became known as the "Manada de Manresa" - Manresa Wolf Pack - for its similarities to another 2016 gang attack on a teenager which prompted widespread protests and an ongoing review of Spain's rape laws. The case is known as the "Manada de Manresa" - Manresa Wolf Pack - for its similarities to a 2016 gang attack on a teenager which prompted widespread protests and an ongoing review of Spain's rape laws.
What happened in this case? Lila Corominas, a spokeswoman for the Manresa Feminist Strike Committee, told newspaper Nius Diario this was "an obvious case of sexual assault and intimidation".
Prosecutors told the court the men took turns to attack the girl, who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Leader of the Más País political party Íñigo Errejón said the sentence was "shameful", while Irene Montero, spokeswoman for Unidas Podemos, called for a change in the law "so we can speak proudly of living in a feminist country".
Some activists are calling for a protest against the court decision in Manresa on Saturday at 13:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
What happened in the case?
The five men were found guilty of abusing the girl during a drinking session known in Spanish as a botellón at a disused factory in Manresa, a town in the north-eastern region of Catalonia, in October 2016.
Prosecutors told the court the men - two Spaniards, two Cubans and one Argentine - took turns to attack the girl, who was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
One of the defendants, named only as Bryan Andrés M, was said to have told each of them: "It's your turn. Fifteen minutes each and no delay."One of the defendants, named only as Bryan Andrés M, was said to have told each of them: "It's your turn. Fifteen minutes each and no delay."
At a previous court hearing, the girl said she remembered very little of what happened but that one of the men had been brandishing a gun.At a previous court hearing, the girl said she remembered very little of what happened but that one of the men had been brandishing a gun.
All the defendants denied the allegations, although the DNA of one of them was found on the girl's underwear.All the defendants denied the allegations, although the DNA of one of them was found on the girl's underwear.
The court ruled that the victim did "not know what she was and wasn't doing, and consequently, did not have the ability to agree to or oppose the sexual relations most of the defendants had with her", El Pais reported.The court ruled that the victim did "not know what she was and wasn't doing, and consequently, did not have the ability to agree to or oppose the sexual relations most of the defendants had with her", El Pais reported.
It added that the defendants "were able to commit sexual acts without using any type of violence or intimidation".It added that the defendants "were able to commit sexual acts without using any type of violence or intimidation".
The court awarded the victim €12,000 (£10,300) damages for an attack it described as "extremely severe and especially denigrating". The court eventually awarded the victim €12,000 (£10,300) damages for an attack it described as "extremely severe and especially denigrating".
What happened in original 'wolf pack' case? Judges expressed "surprise" that the prosecutors changed the charge at the last minute to sexual assault from the initial accusation of sexual abuse. They said they could not see the reasons for the more serious assault offence in the prosecution's arguments.
What happened in the original 'wolf pack' case?
A court in Navarra jailed five men for sexual abuse for a gang attack in Pamplona on an 18-year-old woman who was dragged into the hallway of a residential building.A court in Navarra jailed five men for sexual abuse for a gang attack in Pamplona on an 18-year-old woman who was dragged into the hallway of a residential building.
As she appeared "passive or neutral", according to a police report, the court decided no intimidation or violence had taken place.As she appeared "passive or neutral", according to a police report, the court decided no intimidation or violence had taken place.
In June, the Spanish Supreme Court overturned that ruling, deciding it was sexual assault and that the men were rapists. The five saw their sentences of nine years increased to 15.In June, the Spanish Supreme Court overturned that ruling, deciding it was sexual assault and that the men were rapists. The five saw their sentences of nine years increased to 15.
Spain's prime minister last year appointed a panel to review the rape laws.Spain's prime minister last year appointed a panel to review the rape laws.