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Barcelona racist thug released, but must report to the police twice a day
By m.p. - Oct 26, 2007 - 8:19 AM
ALSO SEE : • Spain criticises Italian policy towards immigration - May 17, 2008 - 12:07 PM
• Order to remove racist sign outside Mallorca computer shop - May 12, 2008 - 3:39 PM

The security camera images of the assault. Photo – EFE.
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A psychiatrist said the 21 year old charged with abusing a young girl from Ecuador on the Barcelona metro suffered a traumatic childhood
The 21 year old man caught on security cameras beating up a young Ecuadorean woman in an alleged racist attack on the Barcelona metro on 7th October was provisionally released after questioning in Instruction Court No. 2 in Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona province, on Thursday.

Sergi Xavier M.M. must report to the local police station in Santa Coloma de Cervelló twice a day as part of the condition for his release, together with a distancing order preventing him from coming within 1,000 metres of the victim or having any form of other contact with her.

It’s understood this morning that the Barcelona Prosecutors’ Office is to launch an appeal against the bail granted to allow him to go free.

The judge took statements on Thursday from the alleged aggressor, the victim and a witness. The only comment to journalists waiting outside the court came from defence lawyers, who told Europa Press they had confidence in the justice system, despite what was described as a ‘media circus.’

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The young Ecuadorean woman arriving in court with her lawyer on Thursday. Photo – EFE.
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The news agency quoted psychiatrist Alfons Icart saying that Sergi suffers a serious mental disorder and has been under psychiatric treatment for almost 10 years, related to a traumatic childhood, when he was brought up without a mother and with an alcoholic for a father. Icart said he was brought up by his grandmother, who punished him for his pleas for attention.

The images of the attack have been widely shown on television in Spain, showing the assailant kicking and shouting racist insults at the girl while talking on his mobile phone. Another passenger is clearly seen facing away and doing nothing to intervene.

That passenger has now been identified as a young Argentinean. He has said that he has received threats from several people following his lack of action.

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ALSO SEE :
• Spain criticises Italian policy towards immigration - May 17, 2008 - 12:07 PM
• Order to remove racist sign outside Mallorca computer shop - May 12, 2008 - 3:39 PM
• Demonstrations across Spain against Racism - Oct 27, 2007 - 8:13 PM
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• Re-arrest of alleged Barcelona racialist ordered - Oct 24, 2007 - 1:41 PM
• Suspected racist attack in Berza - Apr 5, 2006 - 11:32 PM
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