Villa de Pitanxo trial in Spain

In late July 2026, Spain’s Audiencia Nacional opened an oral criminal trial against the captain of the fishing vessel Villa de Pitanxo, Juan Enrique Padín, and two senior executives of the owning company. The defendants were charged with homicide by gross negligence and reckless injuries for the February 2022 sinking of the vessel in Canadian waters that killed 21 crew members. The court ordered a joint bail of €44 million from the three accused and required the fishing company and its insurer to provide the same amount as civil liability guarantees, with formal delivery scheduled for 28 July.

A few days later, the court issued a directive requiring the three suspects to appear in Madrid on 5 August, despite Spain’s customary judicial holiday in August. The defendants were also ordered to furnish the €44 million civil guarantee within one day. The ship‑owner and insurer were to be summoned as civil parties, underscoring that urgent criminal proceedings continue even during the holiday period.