10 days · 12 summary articles
Julio Iglesias has secured a legal victory against Spain’s Public Prosecution Service after the Audiencia Nacional ruled on Thursday that the Fiscalía must hand over the sexual assault complaint filed against him, along with the statements of two protected witnesses. The court’s Contentious-Administrative Chamber found that the prosecutor’s refusal to disclose the documents violated Iglesias’s right to a fair defence, a decision that marks a rare setback for Spain’s judicial authorities in a high-profile case.
The ruling, published on 18 June 2026, compels the Fiscalía to release the full complaint and witness testimonies within a legally defined period, though the court did not specify a deadline. Legal experts noted that the decision underscores the judiciary’s role in balancing prosecutorial discretion with defendants’ constitutional rights. “The court has made it clear that transparency in criminal proceedings is not optional when it directly impacts an accused person’s ability to mount a defence,” said María López, a criminal law professor at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid .
The case stems from a 2024 complaint filed by a woman who alleged Iglesias sexually assaulted her in Madrid. The Fiscalía had withheld the complaint and witness statements, arguing that disclosure could compromise the investigation and endanger the complainant. However, the court rejected this position, stating that Iglesias’s legal team had demonstrated a legitimate need for the documents to prepare their case. The decision does not prejudge the merits of the sexual assault allegation but ensures Iglesias can access all relevant evidence ahead of any potential trial.
Meanwhile, other high-profile sexual offence cases continued to unfold across Europe on Thursday. In Northern Ireland, the jury in the trial of Jeffrey Donaldson, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, resumed deliberations after the judge delivered final instructions, cautioning jurors against letting sympathy or prejudice influence their verdict. The trial centres on allegations of historical sexual offences, with the jury expected to reconvene on Friday .
In Spain, rapper El Jincho faces a potential 13-year prison sentence after the Fiscalía maintained its demand for the maximum penalty in a case involving the alleged rape of a minor in a Valencia hotel following a concert. The trial has been marked by shifting testimony, including that of the victim’s friend, whose account has reportedly changed since the initial complaint .
In Germany, the Federal Court of Justice ordered a retrial for a father accused of coercing his 15-year-old son into prostitution by arranging sexual encounters with a pastor. The son has appealed for a harsher sentence, arguing the original ruling was too lenient .
And in Norway, a 19-year-old from Stavanger must face a new trial after a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict in a case involving an alleged plot to commit murder in England. Defence lawyers are now pushing for the case to be transferred to Norwegian courts .