Spanish Ex-Chef on Trial in Andorra for Threatening Boss and Mother with Knife

A 57-year-old Spanish former head chef at a hotel in Sant Julià de Lòria faced trial at the Tribunal de Corts on Thursday for two counts of serious threats with a bladed weapon. The charges relate to incidents in late August 2020 amid mounting workplace friction after 16 years at the hotel.

Public prosecutors detailed how the defendant allegedly targeted his 52-year-old Andorran manager on two separate occasions. In the first, during a conversation with a colleague in the hotel vegetable garden, he reportedly said he felt "very unwell" because of his boss and that if he saw him, he would "slit him open," while displaying a knife and simulating the motion. The second involved a direct encounter outdoors with the manager's 86-year-old mother, where he allegedly declared, "I'll grab a knife and stab your son," again showing a blade.

The prosecution argues the acts amount to credible threats, backed by police reports and witness statements, and is seeking a 14-month suspended prison term—suspended for four years—along with a €3,000 civil liability fine, split equally between the manager and his mother. Officers who intervened weeks later described the defendant as remorseful and cooperative while seizing multiple weapons.

The defendant rejected any harmful intent, conceding only that his boss "deserved a couple of slaps" but denying threats or menacing use of knives. He portrayed any blades or shears as routine garden tools and said his employment ended on good terms.

Testimonies diverged sharply. A close colleague confirmed hearing the defendant, on separate occasions in the garden and kitchen, express anger about "slicing" the boss while showing a knife, but attributed it to a fleeting outburst with no real danger, given the work context. The manager testified he learned of the episodes from his mother and a maintenance worker, prompting a police report out of concern. The manager's mother recounted the direct confrontation verbatim. Witnesses noted how a September 2020 homicide in Encamp—involving a worker killing his ex-boss in a labour dispute—heightened fears at the time.

With memories faded over six years, accounts ranged from downplaying the remarks as heated words to viewing them as alarming. The court will decide whether the incidents crossed into genuine risk. A verdict remains pending.