OUTRAGE

By Humphrey Carter
ANGER and outrage swept across the Balearics yesterday with over 70 people gathering at Son Dureta hospital to condemn the shooting of Pilar Crevillen. Many of the victim's work colleagues gathered outside the hospital, demanding justice.
A minute's silence was held in memory of 41-year-old Pilar Crevillen and many of the crowd were clearly very upset over her death.
One of the members of the hospital staff who had been working with Pilar Crevillen on December 26 spoke of how the victim felt threatened “she did not feel safe.” The president of the hospital cleaning committee, Alicia Barceló, speaking on behalf of all her employees, said that they all felt disgusted and deeply angry over the crime. Alicia Barceló said that she personally knew the alleged killer, “he was the typical fun guy outside but a devil at home.” She went on to claim that other women who had been involved with Domingo P.M. had suffered a tough time and that the suspect, not only constantly pestered Pilar, but when they lived together used to count the minutes she was out of the house. The victim's brother-in-law, Francisco Cruz, expressed his indignation yesterday, questioning how the suspect was permitted to have an arms licence.
All of the local political parties joined women's rights groups in condemning Thursday night's shooting.
Balearic Health Minister, Ana Pastor, said that domestic violence is the “cancer of the 21st century” and called on society as a whole to step up the fight against domestic violence. She said that the health service is working extremely hard to detect cases of domestic violence, she added that in most cases, victims will see their GP first before going to the police, if they do report the case at all. Last year in Spain, 81 women died, victims of domestic violence and 71 of the 81 were Spanish nationals.
In total, as a result of sexual abuse, prostitution or human trafficking, 97 women died in Spain, three out of four being Spanish while three out of five attackers were also Spanish. According to the latest report published by Women Against Violence, domestic violence remains a serious problem in Spanish society and further steps need to be taken to address the problem. The region with the highest number of fatal cases, 18, last year was Andalucia, followed by Cataluña.
In the Balearics there were just three and in the Basque Country none.