Cuban woman stabs partner 118 times in Sant Adrià

118 stab wounds and a 'jinetera': the economic cost of transactional relationships

In Sant Adrià de Besòs, Spain, a volunteer who dedicated his time to disabled children was murdered by his partner, a Cuban woman, after being deceived into participating in a supposed sensual game. The victim, Gerard, was tied to a chair and stabbed 118 times, mostly while still alive. This case is not just an atrocious crime, but a reflection of the underlying economic dynamics in couples when financial dependency is involved.

The aggressor's economic profile
The accused, Arletys Castillo, fits the profile of a Cuban 'jinetera' (a term for women who use sensual appeal to obtain resources from wealthier men). In this case, the relationship with Gerard was built on the promise of economic stability. According to trial data, she was five months pregnant at the time of the crime, pointing to a strategy to secure long-term sustenance. When the victim decided to end the relationship, the response was extreme violence.

The asymmetry of gender violence laws
In Spain, the comprehensive law against gender violence only protects women as victims. Therefore, this murder is not classified as gender violence, which reduces penalties and media coverage. Case analyses suggest the sentence will be less than ten years, compared to decades a man would receive in similar circumstances. This asymmetry has an economic and social cost: it discourages reporting male violence and perpetuates a bias that costs lives.

Media silence and its consequences
While the Julio Iglesias case dominated headlines, this murder received barely any coverage. Data on male femicides are scarce, but anecdotal evidence suggests they are underestimated. Media silence not only hides reality but also distorts public policies: if the cost of a crime is not visible, resources for prevention are unlikely to be allocated.

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The case of Gerard and Arletys is not an anecdote, but a symptom of a deeper problem: the commodification of romantic relationships and the system's inability to protect all victims. Let no one be fooled: love has no price, but in this case it had a rate, and it was paid for with 118 stab wounds.

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