The trial against Francisco Javier Almeida, alias Mortadelo or the Monster of Lardero, for allegedly raping and murdering nine-year-old Álex on October 28, 2021, is leaving overwhelming moments. Especially when the defendant assured that the victim had volunteered to be sexually abused or when the father of the child testified a few meters from Almeida.
That “we are like the living dead. They have taken everything from us”, shrank the stomach of those present. As well as listening to the exclusive testimony of one of the people in charge of closely monitoring the alleged murderer before the microphones of Cuatro al día this Wednesday. The interviewee pointed out that Almeida has two faces.
The lieutenant of the Judicial Police who led the investigation into the murder of little Álex, allegedly at the hands of Francisco Javier Almeida, explained to the judge that the minor had “no possibility of defense and could not even scream” and stressed that the death of the victim was “an extremely violent death and the sexual assault even more so.”
Something that completely contradicts the statement of the so-called Lardero Monster, who claimed in his statement that he had covered the child’s mouth, but did not later remember anything of what happened. In fact, he went so far as to say that the victim volunteered for sexual abuse and that he did not force it.
This image of the murderer is completely different from the one kept of him by one of the people who closely watched the defendant in prison. An essential testimony that reveals the two faces of Almeida. According to this witness, “in short distances he is a pleasant person, he is friendly, totally educated… he was the trusted prisoner,” he said in his last interaction with the alleged murderer while they were having coffee.
However, “I was completely unaware of all that, until one day one of the officials warned me.” After learning about Almeida’s criminal career, this person discovered that a very dark side was hidden behind that friendly face. In fact, from then on, she stopped being “so cordial” with him.
Likewise, this witness considers Almeida “a monster” who “knows very well the behavior that he has to have in prison, with a low profile, to be able to have prison permits, not to make any mistakes in order to achieve freedom and continue hunting.”
“They know that they can get out of prison sooner by behaving. But they have another face when they are on the street. This one gave me one face and then it was another. He is a murderer, he is a psychopath. He is aware of what he is doing, he knows the damage he causes, he knows how to put himself in the victim’s place. But, he does it as long as it gives him a benefit ”, he revealed.
