Andorra Court Acquits Father Accused of Mistreating Young Son

Andorra's Tribunal de Corts acquitted a 66-year-old doctor accused of ongoing domestic mistreatment and injuries to his minor son following two episodes in 2018 and 2021.

The court issued the ruling yesterday, absolving the man of all charges and nullifying the prosecution's processing order along with any related measures. Prosecutors had sought an 18-month suspended prison sentence and €7,000 in moral damages, alleging excessive violence in the father's interventions.

The incidents involved the man separating his two sons during arguments. In the first, from 2018, the boy reportedly told his mother that his father had grabbed him by the neck. The second occurred in December 2021, when the child described being thrown to the ground and punched during a dispute.

Throughout the trial in June, the father denied any physical or psychological violence. He insisted his actions amounted to routine efforts to break up the siblings' fights and said he never struck the child. His defence team called for acquittal, arguing a lack of objective evidence of aggression.

A psychologist testified that the boy's account aligned with details from therapy sessions, though she noted some episodes might have been exaggerated. The mother, who did not witness the events directly, confirmed no visible physical marks on the boy and that the father complied with visitation arrangements. Other experts from health and social services had previously noted the child's anxiety and unease, linking it to jealousy toward his younger sibling and the father's actions.

The case emerged during a contentious marital separation. The court ultimately rejected the prosecution's claims, finding no basis for mistreatment or injury charges. The man, who skipped the sentence notification, expressed satisfaction upon learning the outcome.