Andorra Court Acquits Father Accused of Mistreating Young Son

Andorra's Tribunal de Corts has fully acquitted a 66-year-old man accused of mistreating and injuring his eldest son, who was aged 5 and 7 at the time of the alleged 2018 and 2021 incidents.

The ruling states: "Absolve from the major crimes of mistreatment and injuries, annulling the processing order and any measures imposed." It eliminates all criminal liability for the father, who faced charges over two isolated episodes while separating his two sons during minor sibling squabbles.

The man consistently maintained he had done nothing wrong, describing his actions as routine efforts to intervene in childish fights between the siblings. He noted that one son sometimes struggled to respond appropriately. The defence argued these events carried no criminal weight.

Prosecutors, however, pushed for an 18-month suspended prison term and €7,000 in moral damages, asserting the father used excessive violence. Psychologists, health service professionals, and social services reported the boy experienced added anxiety and unease. The mother testified she did not witness any aggressive episodes, though she found the children's accounts credible. Experts linked signs of distress and jealousy toward the younger sibling to the father's interventions.

The case unfolded amid a difficult marital separation, with the father adhering to all visitation rules and conditions. Despite this context, the court rejected the prosecution's claims of mistreatment or injury, siding with the defence.

The trial took place in June, and the accused did not attend the sentence notification but reportedly received the news with great satisfaction. No further details on the incidents were outlined in the judgment.