THE younger sister of missing sixth-former Diana Quer – whose body was found on New Year's Eve after 16 months of searching – has tweeted a message to eight-year-old Gabriel Cruz Ramírez after the child's body was found today (Sunday) in the boot of his father's girlfriend's car.
Valeria Quer, who was 16 when Diana, 18, vanished in August 2016, has always been active on social media since she last saw her elder sister, with messages of love urging her to return home, then tributes to her after it was known she had been murdered.
Since Diana's body was found and her killer, José Enrique Abuín Gey, 46, was arrested, Valeria and her father Juan Carlos have been actively campaigning for a change in the law to allow for 'life-means-life' prison sentences subject to regular review.
Juan Carlos Quer is joined in his campaign by Ruth Ortiz, whose daughter Ruth, six and son José, two, were murdered by their now-convicted father José Bretón, and by Antonio del Castillo, whose daughter Marta del Castillo Casanueva was killed by her ex-boyfriend Miguel Carcaño in January 2009, when she was just 17.
Spain's government wants to introduce permanent prison sentences for child killers, paedophiles, rapists and murderers, which would be subject to constant review, since the current maximum custodial term of 30 years – often shortened in the end for 'good behaviour' – means criminals with no interest in reforming, no remorse or with pathological and dangerous obsessions are automatically out on the street and able to reoffend, placing society in danger.
This move has its opponents in Parliament who are attempting to prevent the law going through.
Now, however, those backing the campaign for reviewable life imprisonment have turned to social media to give their condolences to Gabriel's family as their own painful memories are revived.
Valeria Quer tweeted a photograph of little Gabriel with the message: “My deepest condolences to the family and friends...my sister will look after you well.”
Referring to Gabriel's mother Patricia's request for the nation to draw fish and post them online to tell her missing son they were thinking of him, Antonio del Castillo – whose daughter Marta's body has never been found, more than nine years after her murder – tweeted: “Rest in peace, little fishie. The whole of Spain will miss you.”
Del Castillo also sent a message of thanks to the Guardia Civil for their tireless efforts in trying to find Gabriel and in solving the case: “The best we've always had in Spain. Long live the Guardia Civil.”
Even when the courts refused to keep the case of Marta's missing body open, Guardia Civil officers in the Sevilla area have continued to search for her of their own free will in an as-yet futile attempt to give her parents and grandparents closure.
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A NEW child protection law named after a British musician living in Spain has been approved in Congress and is set to be signed off by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday, June 8.
