- Title: Madrid residents support Supreme Court ruling in Catalan independence case
- Date: 14th October 2019
- Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (OCTOBER 14, 2019) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING THROUGH PASEO DEL PRADO / SPANISH FLAG FLUTTERING SPANISH FLAG FLUTTERING CARS DRIVING PAST, SPAIN'S NATIONAL LIBRARY PEOPLE WALKING IN THE STREET (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, JUAN LUIS OUCADE, SAYING: "I think the crime of rebellion was totally justified because it was really a rising against the right of state and against democracy and they should have got the maximum that penal code says." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, ANGEL GIRAU, SAYING: "About the sentence, I think it's good that there's not a general perception of impunity. Furthermore, it's difficult to know the exact grade, whether it should be 4, 6, 8 or 15 (years). Personally, I can say that rebellion for me was a bit crazy. Apart from that, it is the Supreme Court and what we need to do now is to abide by the sentence and that's it." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MADRID RESIDENT, ANTONIA MINCACHAGUA, SAYING: "It is the correct one (the sentence). My humble position is that if they have to pay, they should pay for their guilt." PEOPLE WALKING / COLON SQUARE IN BACKGROUND WOMAN SPEAKING ON PHONE VARIOUS OF SCULPTURES OF DIEGO VELAZQUEZ'S 'LAS MENINAS' ON STREET AND PEOPLE WALKING BY
- Embargoed: 28th October 2019 09:04
- Keywords: Catalonia independence Spain's Supreme court veredict jailed catalan separatist leaders Madrid residents
- Location: MADRID, SPAIN
- City: MADRID, SPAIN
- Country: Spain
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001B12IUDJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Spain's Supreme Court on Monday (October 14) sentenced nine Catalan separatist leaders to between nine and 13 years in prison for sedition over their role in the region's failed bid for independence in 2017.
The three other defendants in the landmark ruling over a banned referendum and short-lived independence declaration were found guilty only of disobedience and not sentenced to prison. All defendants were acquitted of the most severe charge, rebellion.
After the ruling, some residents in Madrid said the sentence should be accepted and fulfilled while others said the separatist leaders should have got maximum time in jail under the penal code.
The longest prison term went to former Catalan deputy leader Oriol Junqueras, who was given 13 years.
Four of the leaders were convicted of misuse of public funds.
Separatist protests have been largely peaceful but police sources have said authorities are prepared for potential violence.
The government has said it is ready to take direct control of Catalonia, as it did briefly in 2017, if leaders of the movement break the law.
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