The criminal trial for the tragic event that occurred on the Castelldefels Night Bus in the summer of 2025 will be held on September 17 in the juvenile court . After the conciliation process stalled due to the enormous difference between the parties' assessments, the case will be definitively resolved in court.
Daniel Salvador, head of the Criminal Law department at Vosseler Abogados , is representing the minor DC (16 years old). The firm firmly maintains that the young man acted in self-defense to repel a prior physical attack after being knocked to the ground.
Prior unlawful aggression captured by cameras
The incident began after a verbal argument inside the vehicle that continued outside. According to the defense brief filed by Vosseler Abogados—and supported by security camera footage from NitBus itself included in the case file—the victim and a companion waited for the minor after he got off at Colom Square with the clear intention of continuing the confrontation.
The images from the driver's rearview mirror clearly show how both young men physically assaulted DC , punching and shoving him until he fell to the ground, leaving him completely defenseless.
It was at that precise moment that the boy, with the sole purpose of escaping the attack and repelling the aggression, retrieved a small corkscrew from his family's restaurant. He aimed it at the victim's lower extremity, a clearly non-vital area. Tragically, the impact accidentally struck the back of the knee (popliteal artery and vein ). This caused massive bleeding that led to the boy's subsequent death in the hospital.
Criminal defense: total absence of homicidal intent
From a strictly legal point of view, Daniel Salvador emphasizes the absence of malice or intent to kill on the part of DC. The defense brief underlines a key argument in juvenile jurisprudence:
"It is unfeasible to demand that a minor under 16 years of age could foresee that a defensive injury to a leg could trigger a hemorrhagic shock with fatal consequences."
Therefore, at Vosseler Abogados we reaffirm our position regarding the oral trial of the 'NitBus case' based on three main points:
- Acquittal for self-defenseThe legal requirements are fully met: existence of a prior unlawful aggression, rational need for the means used to defend oneself on the ground and lack of sufficient provocation on the part of the minor.
- Exemption due to insurmountable fear: As a subsidiary measure, this exemption is invoked due to the situation of panic and helplessness suffered by the young man in the face of two attackers.
- Alternative rating: If the complete exemption is not found, the defense argues that the facts should be classified, at most, as a less serious manslaughter.
Absolute disagreement in the legal classifications
The distance separating the parties has made it impossible to reach a settlement at the conciliation hearing held this Tuesday, June 30. Their positions are currently at odds.
It should be noted that the minor voluntarily returned from Turkey last January. This was a fully coordinated effort between Vosseler Abogados and the Juvenile Prosecutor's Office to ensure his immediate appearance before the court. Since then, the young man has remained in compliance with the imposed precautionary measures.
The trial at the Barcelona Juvenile Court will be the setting where it will be determined whether DC's action was, as Daniel Salvador points out, "a purely reactive and instinctive survival response to an illegitimate physical attack ."
Do you need advice on Juvenile Criminal Law?
At Vosseler Abogados, we have a team of specialists led by Daniel Salvador to guarantee the best legal defense in complex situationsIf you need help, you can contact our office.
