GUARDIA Civil have arrested four people, who are believed to have been responsible for the assassination of 54-year old Notary, Juan Jose Martinez, which took place at the central Notary on calle Ramon Gallud, Torrevieja, on October 26 2009.

Several armed men burst into the offices with the intention of stealing a large sum of money that they had heard would be exchanged there during that afternoon. The victim had attempted to defend his employees who were being bullied into handing over the cash from the safe, when he was fatally shot in the abdomen, and the men took flight.

A sophisticated investigation to locate the culprits has been underway ever since, including the gathering of statements from witnesses, use of various investigative techniques, searches, telephone interventions and analysis of different sources.

Once the Guardia Civil had accumulated sufficient evidence they were able to implement the second phase of the operation, which was successfully rolled out across the provinces of Murcia, Castellon, Valencia and Alicante on April 7.

In the locality of Almazora (Castellon), a 33-year old Spaniard with the initials JMRB was arrested in suspicion of homicide, illicit possession of fire arms and theft with violence and intimidation. He is believed to his fired the fatal bullet that ended the life of Mr Martinez.

In the Valencian Municipality of Torrente, Agents searched the property of a 21- year old Russian man with the initials AS, who was arrested on the same grounds. At the property the Police also discovered several T-shirts from the notorious gang ‘Hell’s Angels’, an electric weapon a baseball bat, a sock containing ammunition and a variety of firearms.

In Santiago de la Ribera (Murcia), Agents detained a 32-year old Spaniard with the initials MPO, who is believed to have been responsible for destroying the weapon used in the shooting. Police searched his home address in Pilar de la Horadada where they found clothing that matched descriptions given by witnesses, as well as a mountain of computer equipment.

The gun that is believed to have been used in the shooting was recovered in a rural zone in Orihuela Costa, and another weapon that was carried to intimidate staff at the Notary found at a place in Pilar de la Horadada. In a public establishment in San Pedro del Pinatar, Police detained 41-year old Spaniard, DJPG, who is also believed to be linked to the crime.

His property in Pilar de la Horadada was searched for evidence that would confirm his involvement. The entire operation has been coordinated by the Juzgado de Instruccion numero cuatro (court number four) in Torrevieja.

For further information or if you have any details that might support the investigation, please contact the Guardia Civil Oficina Periferica de Comunicacion (OPC) in Alicante, on 96 5 145 6 60.

By Heidi Wardman