Three men who started a massive forest fire which raged through some of the most picturesque parts of Calasparra in 2010 were sent to trial by a court in Caravaca this week.
Francisco Ramón F.M. and Francisco Javier M.M., and the alleged purchaser of stolen property, Pedro M.S. allegedly started the fire to distract the pOlice and guardia civil while they robbed copper cables.
The fires were started in protected areas in the Vega Alta and the River Alhárable and Moratalla, and another in an area with a Special Bird Protection Order (ZEPA) at the Quípar reservoir, the Llanos del Cagitán, and the la Sierra de Molina.
The value of the environmental and ecological damage has been put at 8.6 million euros. The impact of the fire on the underground well of Sinclinal has been assessed at 42,000 euros.
The Magistrates Court in Caravaca, which investigated the fires in Calasparra in September 2010, has given the prosecutions and the defendants 10 days to prepare their cases for trial.
A fourth man is currently under suspicion of being involved in the crime.
