The First Court of Instruction in Orihuela has convicted the mayor of Dolores, Joaquín Hernández (PSOE), and a local resident, José María Argilés, of minor injuries following an altercation in the town square on August 9.
The mayor was fined 900 euros, plus 90 euros in civil compensation, while Argilés received a 600-euro fine. Both were penalized at a rate of 10 euros per day, though for differing durations—three months for Hernández and two months for Argilés.
The incident occurred when Argilés, leaving a bar with friends, encountered the mayor and the two exchanged insults before physically confronting each other. Argilés reportedly grabbed Hernández’s shirt, prompting Hernández to seize him by the wrists and shoulders, leading to both men falling.
Police observed injuries, including bruises on Argilés, who attributed bleeding to a skin condition.
Initially, neither party filed a report, but both did so later. In court, the mayor claimed he had endured years of insults and threats from Argilés and acted only in self-defence.
Argilés, meanwhile, accused the mayor of initiating the attack. Witness accounts were conflicting and appeared biased based on personal relationships, leading the judge to rule that both parties used violence.
The judge concluded that Hernández’s actions were not merely defensive, and that the altercation involved mutual aggression.
Hernández has appealed the ruling and also accused the Popular Party of exploiting the incident to damage his reputation.
See also: Dolores mayor refuses to resign over fight
