Santiago del Valle has been found guilty of the murder of the Huelva five year old, Mari Luz Cortés, and sentenced to 22 years in prison by the court in Huelva.

The court found him guilty of murder and sexual abuse. His sister was handed down a nine year sentence for acting as an accomplice.

The court considered it proved that between the hours of 1630 and 1640 on January 13 2008 the five year old left her home in the El Torrejón district of Huelva to buy sweets at a local kiosk.
As she was returning home she was watched by Santiago del Valle, who had a previous conviction for sexual abuse, from the window of the home he shared with his wife, Isabel García, and his sister Rosa del Valle. In order to satisfy his libidinous mood, he trapped the child by throwing down a white teddy bear and invited her into his home. She climbed the single flight of steps to get into the house, and he started to touch her, gripping her by the wrist and throat to stop her escaping.

Injuries suffered at this time were enough to make the child unconscious, according to the court and Santiago del Valle decided to get rid of the body. He grabbed a supermarket trolley and put Mari Luz inside covering her with a black jacket so she could not be seen. He then woke his sister Rosa, told her what happened, and asked that she help him put the child in his car.

The two then put the trolley in the boot and then headed to marshland near the Estero del Rincón. Thinking her dead, he through her body into the water. The child was still alive but soon drowned.

Rosa headed home, while Santiago disposed of the shopping trolley. When he returned home Rosa told him that Mari Luz’s family had called looking for the child.

The next day, Santiago del Valle and Isabel García headed to the Huelva bus station with a plan to leave the city.

Mari Luz Cortés body was found on March 7 2008, floating face down in the mouths of the Tinto and Odiel rivers.

The court also ordered that Del Valle can no longer live in Huelva, he is banned from communicating with the Mari Luz family for 32 years, and he and his sister have to pay compensation to the family of the victim with 166,000 €.

The lawyer representing Rosa del Valle said it was a bitter sweet verdict as, although there had not been the necessary cooperation, her client had still be considered to be an accomplice. She said she was still considering whether to launch an appeal.

Mari Luz’s father has said that he will hold a press conference on Monday to give his opinions on the sentence. Juan José Cortés has however said on his Facebook page that the sentence is too short.
‘The justice system that we have is lamentable’, he said.