The Provincial Court of Almería has confirmed the two-year prison sentences for the coach and historic player of the Spanish volleyball team and the Almería Volleyball Club Cosme Prenafeta for sexually abusing two players whom he kissed without their consent, in addition to touching their buttocks to one of them.
The ruling, to which EFE has had access, dismisses an appeal against the original ruling that declared it proven that Prenafeta, coach of the volleyball team in which the two victims played, held a Christmas meal on December 28, 2020. at her home, where all the players of said team attended.
Around 6:00 p.m., after the rest of the teammates left, the victims were left alone with the coach, “consuming alcoholic beverages and participating in a game that consisted of asking each other questions of a sexual nature and drinking shots of alcohol.” .
During said game, with “the desire to satisfy his lustful desires,” the accused approached one of the girls in the living room of the house and grabbed her by the neck with one hand to give her a kiss on the mouth that “lasted several seconds.” “. The victim tried to break away and pushed Prenafeta away with his arms.
All this happened while the other victim was in the bathroom, but when she returned the accused approached her on three occasions in the kitchen, on the terrace and in a room to kiss her on the mouth and neck, and on one occasion On these occasions he touched her buttocks.
“These events occurred without the consent of the victims, both suffering from anxiety-depressive symptoms as a result of the events described,” the ruling adds.
An appeal was filed against the lower court ruling, requesting the annulment of the trial, as well as that the proceedings be retroactive so that a new oral hearing could be held in which a psychological expert opinion would be carried out, which had initially been admitted and subsequently denied.
The Court of Almería now points out that “the testimony of the witnesses has been, in essence, reiterated in the different statements given (…), when the accused has also acknowledged the kisses, although he maintains that they were consensual.”
Thus, the sentences of one year in prison are ratified for each of the two crimes of sexual abuse for which Prenafeta had been convicted, for which he is also imposed restraining orders of 200 meters for three years and the payment of compensation of 3,000 euros to each of the injured parties.
