Andorran court sentences minor to 8 months socio-educational measures for 2019 nightclub head injury

The Corts Court has sentenced a man—who was a minor at the time—to eight months of socio-educational activities for causing a serious head injury during a 2019 nightclub brawl in Andorra la Vella. He must also pay €2,686 in civil liability, to be covered by his parents, plus court costs. The ruling is not final and can be appealed within 15 days. The court held him responsible for a major intentional injury requiring medical treatment, despite his age leading to educational measures rather than prison.

The incident occurred in the early hours of 1 November 2019 at a capital nightlife venue. An initial argument inside escalated into shoving, spilling outside where the victim suffered a deep forehead cut needing eight stitches and, in one account, loss of consciousness. The accused insisted he acted in self-defence with a single punch and denied further involvement. The victim described initial mutual aggression but said he was then surrounded by multiple people, unable to identify who inflicted the wound—though he noted the accused's participation.

Witnesses depicted a chaotic fight involving several participants. The defence argued the injury stemmed from pre-existing broken glass on the ground. Forensic evidence ruled out a simple punch as the cause but deemed it compatible with a sharp ring, cutting object like glass, or a fall onto shards. Prosecutors initially suspected use of a dangerous implement such as a bottle or glass and sought 12 months of measures for assault; one report mentioned a possible one-year prison term before shifting to educational options. No white weapon or implement was conclusively proven.

The court rejected the self-defence claim, found the accused responsible despite evidentiary doubts, and imposed the lighter sentence considering his minor status at the time.