Spain: Man who shot police officer avoids trial and dies by euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Marin Sabau was a 46-year-old Romanian man who was awaiting trial for allegedly shooting 5 people, including a police officer, at a Securitas office in Tarragona Spain in December 2021 has avoided trial and died by euthanasia. Sabau was approved for euthanasia for his injury caused by being shot in the spine by a police sharp-shooter.

Euronews reported:

The law allowing euthanasia in Spain came into force last year for adults with serious and incurable conditions that cause "unbearable suffering".

The case of the so-called "Gunslinger of Tarragona" has divided Spain, as lawyers for Sabau's victims had called for him to go to trial to receive compensation.

"The victims have a feeling of frustration, a person was left to decide when and how to end the legal proceedings," said José Antonio Bitos, the lawyer for two injured policemen injured.

Euronews reported that Bitos is concerned with how this decision affects other crimes.

Bitos added that his clients would receive damages from Spain's public administration because they were injured on duty, while other victims "will not get a trial or compensation".

He noted that the decision weakens the rule of law in Spain and could set a precedent for other serious crimes, including terrorism or paedophilia, and has called for the law on euthanasia to be updated.

I am very concerned with the direction of the Spanish euthanasia law. The court stated, in this case, that euthanasia is a fundamental right. If euthanasia is a fundamental right, then every restriction in the law will someday be removed because you cannot limit a fundamental right.

Previous articles on this story:

• Man who shot a Spanish police officer will avoid trial and die by euthanasia (Link). 
• Spain: Police shooter to avoid trial after being approved for euthanasia (Link).