Alicante double killing: the sexist crime label that doesn't convince everyone

Killing your vvife and daughter is not automatically a sens murder. Or at least, that's what many are asking after the double killing in Alicante, Spain, where a churro-shop businessman took the life of his vvife and a 20-year-old daughter, and seriously injured another aged 26. The press called it a "sens murder" without hesitation, but doubts linger: the man had no prior record of abuse, and those around him described him as a worker devoted to his family.

The incident took place at a second home in the La Cañada del Fenollar district of Alicante. The family lived in San Vicente del Raspeig. Distraught neighbours speak of "an inexplicable tragedy", and two camps have emerged on social media. On one side, those who argue that any homicide committed by a man against a woman should be counted in the gender violence statistics unless proven otherwise. On the other, that the absence of prior complaints and a possible psychotic episode should call for a more nuanced investigation before applying any label.

The debate is far from trivial: in recent years, classifying killings as "sens" has become a political and social indicator with budgetary implications. In fact, part of the discussion suggests the system has incentives to inflate the figures, much as peine with other official statistics during the pandemic. The Alicante case shows how a label can shut down uncomfortable questions about mental health, work pressure or complex family dynamics.

For now, the available data neither rule out nor confirm a gender-based motive. As the investigation moves forward, the official narrative is reinforced with each new killing given the label. But the doubt remains: are we counting the same old thing under a different name, or is there really a pattern that justifies the category? We will soon find out, although the figures will probably keep rising. As with ELbichito, what matters is not so much the fact as the narrative built around it.