National
Spanish flamenco dancer serving time for fatal hit and run granted 3rd grade in prison
By m.p.
Mar 24, 2008 - 9:01 PM

Juan Manuel Fernández Montoya, known to the world as the flamenco dancer, Farruquito, has been granted the third prison grade, which means that he will only have to return to the Sevilla II prison at nights. A spokesman for the Prisons Authority gave the news on Monday, and said it was proposed for reasons of good behaviour.

Farruquito has been in prison for a little over a year, where he is serving a three year sentence for a fatal hit and run in the Andaluz capital in 2003. He was found guilty of negligent homicide in the death of 35 year old Benjamín Olalla, who died on a pedestrian crossing in Seville in September 2003. Farruquito fled the scene of the accident and only owned up to driving the car after his 15 year old brother confessed to being at the wheel of the vehicle: it was later found out that Farruquito was driving without a licence and insurance for the vehicle.

Farruquito arriving at court before sentencing. Archive photo – EFE.

He was originally given a 16 month term, which would have meant a suspended sentence, but had the higher term imposed in a later ruling from the provincial court in Seville.

The dancer was granted the second prison grade in May last year, and was let out on his first prison pass last November, for the All Soul’s Day bank holiday. His new permission will remain in place, EFE reports, as long as he can show that he has a job.