Carlos Peña Flores, the 37-year-old Spaniard accused of having set fire to his 32-year-old partner, Xue Sandra Saura, early on Wednesday in Alcudia, appeared today before a remand hearing at Inca magistrates.
He told the court that on Tuesday evening the two had an argument after she apparently announced that she wanted to leave him for another person and would be taking their 22-month-old child with her.
"I just lost it. I went out, had a few beers, four I think, and then a few trippys (drugs)," he explained to the hearing.
According to a number of witnesses and neighbours, the two had been arguing a lot of late and that he was not working. Other witnesses suggested "he was lazy", something that annoyed his girlfriend.
On his way home at about 7am, he stopped at a petrol station and bought a litre can of petrol. He had decided to burn his wife alive because she had no way of defending herself. When he entered their home, he doused her in petrol and set her alight - the flames caught fire to the building as well.
Despite having suffered burns to 80 per cent of her body, the victim feared for the life of their 22-month-old son. She grabbed him in her arms, managed to make it to her car and drove to her father’s home nearby - ignoring the excruciating pain.
The young boy only suffered some minor burns and a few bruises thanks to his mother’s brave and quick reaction.
After being questioned for just over two hours and having confessed to the crime, the 37-year-old was ordered to be held on remand in Palma prison with bail denied.
Police and members of the fire brigade confirmed today that the blaze was intentional. He faces two charges of attempted murder and one of arson.
The victim remains in a critical condition in a special burns unit in Barcelona.