Civil Guard officer Dámaso F. S. sentenced for murder of ex‑wife in Asturias

On 5 August, civil guard Dámaso F. S. opened fire at the Guardia Civil barracks in Llanes, Asturias, killing his former partner, agent Laura Cruz, 50, in what was classified as a serious criminal offence.

After a ten‑year judicial process, a court this week issued a final conviction, ordering prison and immediate expulsion from the Civil Guard. The sentencing concluded a long dispute over a restraining order linked to gender‑based violence. Dámaso had previously requested a transfer to the Civil Guard unit in Zamora to be closer to his three children, whom he had not seen for seven years. He had served in the canine unit, training drug‑detection dogs and was regarded as a skilled handler. He was reported to have said he was “bitter about not being able to see his children,” and a colleague noted he “went out in the middle of the street” after learning of the sentence.