Micael da Silva Montoya, a Portuguese national charged with 13 counts of homicide, including four actual murders, is set to stand trial on May 12. The incident occurred during a wedding near Madrid, Spain, in 2022.
On the night of November 6, 2022, the 38-year-old suspect allegedly carried out a “massacre” at a wedding held at the El Rancho restaurant in Torrejón de Ardoz.
What was meant to be a joyous occasion ended with “four funerals” and nine individuals severely injured and hospitalized. The prosecution accuses Micael of intentionally driving a vehicle into the wedding guests after attending the ceremony with his minor children and nephews, despite not being invited.
Micael, referred to as ‘El Português’, reportedly was not “welcomed” at the event, possibly due to jealousy, leading to his involvement in a fight with the “Bruno clan,” a well-known group in Madrid, which culminated in him running over 13 people.
If convicted, Micael, the primary defendant in this trial, faces a potential sentence of 224 years in prison.
As per the Spanish Penal Code, the maximum prison term is 40 years. However, life imprisonment is possible for very serious crimes, though it must be revisited after 40 years of incarceration.
Authorities Plan Security Operation for Trial
Spanish authorities are preparing a special security operation for the trial day at the Provincial Court, as the families of the deceased “demand justice.”
Minor Son Allegedly Attempted to Seduce Guest
The Spanish Public Prosecutor’s Office suggests that, although Micael and family attended the wedding uninvited, their expulsion was prompted by other incidents.
Reportedly, one of Micael’s minor sons attempted to seduce a guest, causing distress at the venue. Micael allegedly argued with someone over a whiskey glass, and one of the young attendees punched the groom’s father. Further escalating the situation, another expelled individual brandished a knife menacingly.
These events led to a confrontation involving thrown bottles, chairs, and death threats.
Outside the venue, Micael is accused of getting into a car and accelerating into the crowd with the “intention of causing death,” according to the Prosecutor’s Office. Four people were killed, including a 17-year-old.
