Killing of Grandmother in Córdoba Exposes Cracks in Spain's Domestic Violence Protection System

Killed Hours Before Court

Tulia Ester, a 64-year-old Colombian mother of two, was killed by her ex-husband with a machete in Córdoba last Monday — just hours before they were due in court for a domestic violence hearing. She had filed a complaint over the weekend.

The suspect killed Ester in her home and barricaded himself before police arrested him. She became the 16th victim of gender-based violence in Spain this year and the 32nd woman killed in Córdoba since 1999. The total number of domestic violence deaths in Spain since 2003 is now 1,359.

What Is VioGen?

Spain's VioGen system, created in 2007, monitors and prevents gender-based violence by assigning risk levels (low, medium, high, extreme) to reported cases. Despite this system, aggressors have killed over 1,000 people since 2007, including 46 last year.

The Gaps

Critics highlight two major flaws: risk assessments are sometimes set too low before fatal attacks, and the system depends on victims reporting — but only 20-30% of victims report the abuse, leaving a huge gap in protection.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 14, 2026. If you or someone you know is affected by domestic violence in Spain, call 016 (free, confidential, 24/7).