In a tragic incident in Puigpunyent, Mallorca, a seventy-nine year old woman was reportedly killed by her eighty-two year old husband. The Delegation of the Government against Gender Violence has confirmed that this incident falls under the category of gender-based violence. The couple, both of Spanish nationality, had two adult children but no prior complaints of abuse had been logged against the husband or the victim.

The woman’s death occurred as a result of her husband’s use of a hunting shotgun. After the shooting, the husband also inflicted injury upon himself. The local government representative, Alfonso Rodríguez, stated that investigations are ongoing, with the possibility of the incident being an agreed suicide also being examined.

Rodríguez expressed solidarity with the victim’s family and emphasised the need for collective action against gender-based violence. He highlighted that all institutions and the public must come together to tackle this complex issue, stressing the importance of silence breaking and reporting any signs of potential violence.

This tragic case adds to the alarming statistics, marking this year as witnessing six deaths attributed to gender-based violence in Spain. Disturbingly, five out of these six victims had not filed previous complaints, raising concerns about the underreporting of such incidents.