A Spanish lawyer suffocated her 12-year-old adopted Chinese
daughter in a plan hatched with her ex-husband, a public prosecutor told jurors
Thursday as the couple’s high profile trial wrapped up.
Rosario Porto, a former lawyer, and her ex-husband,
journalist Alfonso Basterra, were charged in 2013 of murdering Asunta Yong Fang
Basterra Porto, whom they adopted when she was a baby.
journalist Alfonso Basterra, were charged in 2013 of murdering Asunta Yong Fang
Basterra Porto, whom they adopted when she was a baby.
The couple are accused of drugging Asunta with the sedative
Orfidal periodically for three months and finally asphyxiating her on September
21, 2013. They have both denied the charges.
Orfidal periodically for three months and finally asphyxiating her on September
21, 2013. They have both denied the charges.
Up until now the authorities accused the parents of acting
together.
But in his final arguments to the court prosecutor Jorge Fernandez
de Arguiz said Porto, 46, suffocated Asunta on her own in a plan developed with
her ex husband.
de Arguiz said Porto, 46, suffocated Asunta on her own in a plan developed with
her ex husband.
“He said he thinks they divided up the roles,”
Porto’s lawyer, Jose Luis Gutierrez Aranguren said.
Porto’s lawyer, Jose Luis Gutierrez Aranguren said.
Prosecutors have asked that both Porto and Basterra each get
prison sentences of 18 years.
prison sentences of 18 years.
At the time of Asunta’s death, the couple were separated but
say they were raising their adopted daughter together.
say they were raising their adopted daughter together.
The trial was scheduled to wrap up on Friday. The
nine-member jury will begin deliberations on Monday.
nine-member jury will begin deliberations on Monday.
Over 100 witnesses and experts testified at the trial, which
got underway at the end of September.
got underway at the end of September.
The case shocked Spain and drew international attention when
it came to light, prompting a statement of concern by the Chinese foreign
ministry.
it came to light, prompting a statement of concern by the Chinese foreign
ministry.
During the trial Porto told the court that she had been
suffering from depression that year and had herself been taking the sedative
Orfidal.
suffering from depression that year and had herself been taking the sedative
Orfidal.
When prosecutors showed her photographs of Asunta’s corpse,
Porto burst into tears, Spanish media in the courtroom reported.
Porto burst into tears, Spanish media in the courtroom reported.
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