News, May 2011

MariLuz murder case closes with 22 years for Santiago del Valle.

The trial of Santiago del Valle, accused of the murder of MariLuz Cortés, daughter of an evangelical pastor, began on 16th February and came to sentencing on 18th March. The little girl (3 years old) went missing from her home in Huelva, Andalusia in January, 2008. Her body was discovered several weeks later thrown into the harbour close by. The killer, Santiago del Valle was sentenced to 18 years for murder and 3 for abuse.

All the evidence suggested that the killer was Santiago del Valle, who was mentally disturbed and lived close by. He and his sister disappeared immediately after the body was found and were eventually found in hiding half way across Spain in a small village. She was sentenced to 9 years for her part.

The death of MariLuz brought her father Juan José Cortés to media fame and also gave him many opportunities to preach the Gospel and encourage believers.