Emilio Perdigón, accused of starting fires in Huelva on July 24th 2004 in which two people lost their lives and 35,291 hectares of land were destroyed, has been acquitted by the Provincial Court in Huelva.
The Court found that there was insufficient evidence to convict Emilio Perdigón and he was acquitted.
There were four fires started, presumed intentionally, on July 24th 2007. Three were very quickly controlled but the fourth went on to threaten and cause damage in the municipalities of inas de Riotinto, Nerva, El Campillo, Escacena del Campo, Paterna del Campo, Zalamea La Real y El Berrocal, y los sevillanos de El Madroño, El Castillo de las Guardas, Aznalcóllar, Gerena, El Garrobo and Sanlúcar La Mayor.
Perdigón had pleaded not guilty, claiming his prior record for arson made hime a prime target for blame.
In addition to two people losing their lives in the blaze, the damage to flora and fauna was devastating and the cost of extinguishing the fire was put at €1.9 million.