Álvaro Ratón, acquitted of the crime of sexual assault

Álvaro Ratón, Real Zaragoza goalkeeper, that he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in 2018 in Carballino (Orense), he has been acquitted of two crimes of sexual assault and injuries, as what happened has not been proven.

The events date back to the end of June of that year, on the night of San Juan, when a woman reported that the accused, with whom she had a conversation, intimidated her into having sexual relations with her. The complainant claimed that he kissed her against her will and shook her while pushing her.

According to his version, the man, whom he knew by sight, told him “You are very hot, we are going here, it will only be a while” and, immediately afterwards, he urged her to have sex. At that moment, he would have tried to force her and by refusing, he threw her against a wall while pulling down his pants in front of her. The physical part detected bruises on the body.

However, according to the ruling provided by the Superior Court of Justice of Galicia, the Criminal Court number one of Orense does not consider proven that he sexually assaulted her or the injuries. In addition, it leaves “without effect” the prohibition to communicate or approach within three hundred meters of the complainant.

It considers that “the participation of the accused in the events has not been proven, beyond a reasonable doubt.”

“To issue a conviction with the available evidence would imply the infringement of the principle of presumption of innocence and of the principle in dubio pro reo,” the ruling abounds, against which an appeal may be made to the Provincial Court of Orense.

The judge also appreciates “variations” in the version offered by the woman and points out that the story “lacks” peripheral corroborations.

In fact, it warns that “There are no witnesses who saw how he grabbed her by one or both arms; who saw how he tried to kiss her or kissed her against her will; who saw that he pulled down his pants; who saw that he put his hand into her underwear; or to see that he pushed her against a bench, ladder or wall. “

All of this, he points out, despite the existence of two nearby locations “where people enter and leave continuously, especially on nights like the one that occurred, the night of San Juan.”