 In the ensuing trial, Romero's defense requested 26 years in prison for three homicides without premeditation only, denying any rape and claiming that the robbery charge had prescribed.Romero testified that he was motivated to rob the couple because of poverty caused by his lack of employment and family dependents, and that the murders were an unplanned escalation.However, it was found that at the time, Romero was actually earning 80,000 pesetas monthly on unemployment benefits and 25,000 more by working illegally in a bar.