Francisco Holgado, known as 'Padre Coraje', died on Wednesday in Jerez de la Frontera at age 82. His death comes without justice for the 1995 murder of his son Juan. Jerez city hall sources confirmed the death to EFE.
Francisco Holgado, an iconic figure in Jerez for his tireless fight, has died at 82. Sources from Jerez city hall confirmed his death to EFE on Wednesday in the city.
The case that defined his life started in the early hours of November 20, 1995. His son Juan Holgado, 22, was stabbed to death while working the night shift at a local gas station, a crime that shocked Jerez society.
In 2000, four people were arrested as presumed perpetrators, but the trial suffered from a lack of conclusive evidence and irregularities. Spain's Supreme Court upheld their acquittal in 2006, leaving the case without convicted culprits.
Undeterred, Holgado led protests, appeared in media, and demanded authorities reopen the investigation. His persistence earned him the nickname 'Padre Coraje' and made him a national symbol for families seeking justice in unsolved cases.
