Double Murder at the Psychiatric Prison in Seville: CSIF Claims It Could Have Been Prevented

Two inmates, aged 26 and 54, were allegedly murdered by a third inmate at the Psychiatric Prison in Seville. CSIF claims that outdated facilities and a lack of staff facilitated this tragedy.

In the early hours of last Monday, a 26-year-old inmate allegedly ended the lives of his two cellmates at the Psychiatric Prison in Seville. Initial hypotheses suggest that one of the victims was strangled and the other died from the blows received. The CSIF union has pointed out that the outdated infrastructure and lack of staff created the conditions for this tragedy to occur.

Outdated Facilities and Overcrowding

The centre, inaugurated in 1990, has a capacity for 100 inmates, but currently houses 148. CSIF has reported that the cells are shared, forcing the mixing of inmates with different profiles. "These deaths could have been avoided if each had been in their own cell," states José Antonio Montero, provincial delegate of CSIF Prisons. The National Mechanism for the Prevention of Torture (MNP), under the Ombudsman, had already warned in its 2025 annual report of the centre's "overcrowding".

Lack of Critical Staff

The current staff to care for the 148 inmates consists of five psychiatrists, two doctors, four psychologists, 15 nurses, 13 clinical assistants, and 18 orderlies. However, CSIF claims that there is a shortage of TCAE (nursing assistants): of a staff of 24, only four remain. "We demand that the job positions be completed and increased," insists Montero. In April, the General Subdirectorate of Resources of Penitentiary Institutions was already notified of the "critical situation" due to nine vacancies.

Another deficit is that of prison officers. "When there is a problem, such as a fight, there is only one officer per module when there should be three or four," explains Montero. "Incidents are reported via walkie, but you cannot intervene until the rest of the colleagues arrive," leaving room for more serious incidents to occur.

A History of Incidents

This double murder occurs a month and five days after another inmate attempted to set fire to his cell, which forced the evacuation of 30 people. The union had already requested the resignation of both the managing director and the medical deputy director of the centre. The National Police is investigating the alleged perpetrator, who remains isolated from the other inmates in the same centre.

The Psychiatric Prison in Seville is one of three such centres in Spain, alongside those in Alicante and the Psychiatric Hospitalisation Unit of Brians 1 (Barcelona). The competencies fall under the General Secretariat of Penitentiary Institutions of the Ministry of the Interior, meaning that the Junta de Andalucía has no management capacity. CSIF has already filed a complaint regarding the staff shortage with the Labour Inspection.

For the residents of the province of Seville, this incident highlights the precariousness of a penitentiary centre that, despite its proximity, is unknown to many. The lack of investment and overcrowding are issues that, according to the unions, require urgent solutions to prevent further tragedies.