Four men have been sentenced to prison for the homophobic murder of Samuel Luiz, a 24-year-old nursing assistant, whose killing in July 2021 shocked Spain and prompted widespread protests.
Luiz was attacked outside a nightclub in A Coruña, north of Spain, while making a video call. Accused of filming passersby, he tried to explain but was assaulted and left with severe injuries. Minutes later, the assailant returned with others who brutally beat Luiz until he lost consciousness. He died later that morning in the hospital.
The attack prompted revulsion across Spain and led to demonstrations the following week in cities including A Coruña, Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Salamanca, Bilbao and Zaragoza. Demonstrators carried signs with slogans such as “your homophobia is killing us”.
A court in A Coruña sentenced three of the convicted men—Diego Montaña, Alejandro Freire, and Kaio Amaral—to 24 years, 20 years, and 20 years and six months in prison, respectively. A fourth man, Alejandro Míguez, who did not physically assault Luiz, was sentenced to 10 years for being an accomplice.
The sentencing marks a step toward justice for Luiz’s family and friends, as well as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against homophobia. Samuel Luiz’s tragic death remains a powerful call to action for equality and human rights in Spain and beyond.
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