Bizarre car park dispute in Tenerife lands woman two years in prison

The dispute took place just under six years ago and remains one of the most bizarre incidents ever to have occurred on Avenida Betancourt y Molina in Puerto de la Cruz. Near the town’s small beach, a row broke out over a parking space, which has now resulted in a two-year prison sentence for one of the parties involved.

The altercation in the north of Tenerife ended with a pregnant woman being hit by a car, as was her mother. Both sustained minor injuries.

The driver was charged and ended up in court. However, the woman did not accept the verdict handed down by the judges in Tenerife, and even her car insurance company joined the case as a third party. This proved unsuccessful, as it has now transpired.

Tenerife: Woman sentenced to two years in prison following a dispute over a parking space

Criminal Court No. 6 in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz, fully upheld the facts of the case and sentenced the woman. Following an appeal, the Regional Court upheld the judges‘ ruling. According to the ruling, the woman had been driving her small car on the road when she clashed with another female driver.

Both judges considered it proven that, during the dispute over the parking space, the woman had accelerated and deliberately hit one of the two women. The victim was left lying on the bonnet for several metres. She then struck the other woman with her wing mirror whilst parking.

The woman who was hit suffered a bruised hip and a leg injury. She also sustained a whiplash injury to her cervical spine. According to a medical report, a previously diagnosed slipped disc had been exacerbated. The other woman was pregnant at the time of the accident. She suffered abdominal injuries and has been suffering from anxiety ever since.

Defendant on Tenerife must pay a fine and compensation for pain and suffering and is barred from voting

The defendant’s defence had argued that there was insufficient evidence to establish who had been driving the car. They also questioned the credibility of the witnesses. The court rejected this argument, stating that such an assessment was a matter for the judge – and that, on the contrary, the court had no doubts whatsoever.

The Regional Court upheld the verdict against the woman, which entails, amongst other things, a two-year prison sentence. In addition, she has been fined 900 euros. The motor insurance company had joined the proceedings as a co-plaintiff, as it is required to pay, jointly with the defendant, compensation for pain and suffering amounting to 2,250 euros, as well as 150 euros. The defendant will also be deprived of her right to vote for the duration of her prison sentence.