Spanish court acquits man accused of murdering sacristan in Algeciras, but orders 30 years of psychiatric detention 

By Maria Jesus Corrales 

Spain’s Audiencia Nacional has acquitted Yassine Kanjaa of murdering a sacristan in Algeciras on January 25, 2023, and injuring two other people, after finding he was exempt from criminal responsibility because of a psychiatric disorder.  

The court ordered his detention in a prison psychiatric centre for up to 30 years.  

The court found Kanjaa presented a schizophrenic condition with acute psychotic episodes that exempted him from criminal responsibility for the killing. 

Judges concluded he committed murder, attempted murder, bodily harm and disrupting a religious ceremony, but acquitted him on psychiatric grounds.  

They rejected classifying the acts as terrorism, saying such offences require serious disruption of peace and a state of terror among the population, which they considered incompatible with his mental state. 

The court ordered compensation of €150,000 to the victim’s widow, €50,000 to each of their two children and €17,000 to relatives of the injured vicar.  

One judge issued a dissenting opinion arguing the offences should be considered an act of terrorism. 

The prosecution said it will appeal the decision.