Overview
- The trial over the alleged 2013 'Kitchen' operation has reached its final argumentative phase with defenses delivering closing pleas and the court preparing to rule.
- Fernández Díaz's lawyer asked the court for acquittal, arguing the ex‑minister never knew of the operation and describing it as lawful intelligence work rather than a parapolicial plot.
- Prosecutors maintain the operation aimed to obstruct the Gürtel investigation and say José Manuel Villarejo recruited Luis Bárcenas's driver, Sergio Ríos, to locate and remove compromising documents.
- The case hinges on contested evidence including notarial records, message logs and entries in Villarejo's agendas that defendants say are unreliable and that experts have challenged.
- A ruling will decide heavy prison requests recorded by the prosecution and could settle broader questions about the use of police resources, reserved funds and accountability for senior PP officials.