Five hundred people gathered in Constitution Square on Friday evening to protest at the murder of Juan Jose Martinez Roman

Five hundred people gathered in Constitution Square on Friday evening to protest at the murder of Juan Jose Martinez Roman on Monday afternoon.The city’s popular Notary was shot dead as he attempted to calm down two armed robbers during a bungled raid on his office. The robbers had earlier broken into the office cashbox from which they stole the contents, believed to be in the region of 400 euros.
Although the sizeable crowd was largely calm there were calls for the maximum sentence for what was described as a despicable crime. A spokesman representing the large business community in attendance, read a statement asking the "Society Torrevejense not stand by thinking that these tragedies only happen to others.
He said that the whole population should act as one in condemning the murder "because we must put a price on each of our lives” He asked if it was worth dying for just 3 or 400 euros, or even a million. “Life is priceless for us all” he stressed. “Today we pray for the memory of Juan José, tomorrow we could be in his position”. The statement was followed by applause and five minutes of silence.
Gabriel Marcos, a friend of Snr Martinez, who also works as an officer in the Notary then read a eulogy written by local poet Miguel Hernandez “la elegía a Ramón Sijé” He too called for the maximum penalty for the murder. Although there was a banner bearing words of protest the organizers decided that it would not be shown at the gathering. The evening finished once again with loud applause in the memory of the popular notary.