Kenyan woman dies after being run down by her elderly husband in Pollensa

PALMA
A 50-year-old Kenyan woman died after apparently being run down in Pollensa yesterday by a car driven by her 86-year-old husband, the Guardia Civil reported.

The scene, which took place at around 8.30am in the El Calvario residential area of Pollensa, was witnessed by their 21-year-old son who later helped his father place the victim in the car so that she could be driven to hospital for medical attention.

The woman and her husband were apparently in the process of separating and the man had come to the family home yesterday morning to collect some belongings. For reasons which have yet to be clarified, a furious argument broke out between the couple.

In circumstances which are still unclear, the man then apparently ran his wife down on a road known as Cerdá Canedes. The Guardia Civil confirmed that the husband and son then lifted the victim into the car to take her to a health centre in Pollensa where she died. Emergency services said that the woman had suffered severe head and leg injuries. The husband, who says it was an accident, spent yesterday in the custody of the Guardia Civil in Pollensa whilst magistrates were informed of the case.

Meanwhile, the Balearic government's Social Affairs Minister, Fina Santiago, speaking unofficially in the regional Parliament yesterday, claimed that the killing was a case of domestic violence, the second fatal case of its kind this year in the Balearics.

Both the Council of Majorca and the Balearic Socialist party (PSIB) have condemned the killing. Francina Armengol, the President of the Council said that all government institutions were firmly against domestic violence and reaffirmed to fight against what she described as a “scourge” on society.

In a statement, the PSIB gave their support to the family of the victim and pointed out that there are already laws in existence to help stamp out domestic violence . Legislation provides the right to victims to receive help against their aggressors from the government and the forces of law and order. The PSIB said that it is important for both the government and for society not to let their guard drop against the threat of domestic violence. “There are still many women who won't denounce their aggressors,” a spokesman said.