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A mother-of-three who was allegedly stabbed to death by her drug-using ex at her home in Spain was ‘fantastic in every sense’ and ‘did everything for her kids’, her devastated friend has said.
Victoria Hart, 33, was found in a pool of blood with a kitchen knife by her side inside her home in Alhaurín el Grande in Andalusia on January 24 after being attacked at around 11.40am local time.
The expat, originally from Solihull, had lived at her home in the Spanish town with her three children for more than 20 years.
Local reports said her eldest child, an 11-year-old boy who has two twin sisters aged seven, ran into the garden of the residential estate, where they lived a 50-minute drive inland from Marbella, and asked for help.
The youngster is also said to have phoned his grandmother after their mother was attacked.
Police arrested her former partner and father of their children Juan Antonio Rueda, after he drove to a nearby Alhaurin de la Torre prison and told officers: ‘Arrest me, I’ve done something very bad.’
Ms Hart’s friend Maxine Hill started a GoFundMe to raise money for her family who are ‘currently carrying the full financial responsibility for the children’s immediate needs’, including food, clothing, utilities and day-to-day care.
Hairdresser Victoria Hart was found by paramedics in a pool of blood with a kitchen knife by her side at her Spanish home, where she had lived for more than 20 years
Hart, pictured with her ex Juan Antonio Rueda, had reported him to police just three months ago after he threatened to kill her
So far, it has raised almost 56,000 euros (£48,473), with a top donation from one generous person of 5,000 euros (£4,328).
Paying tribute to her friend, Ms Hill said: ‘Our beautiful friend Victoria was taken from us far too soon on Saturday morning. Her life was stolen in an act of unimaginable violence, leaving behind three innocent children who have lost both their mum and their dad in one moment.
‘Victoria lived for her children. She fought for them with everything she had, and they were her whole world. Now those children are facing a future without her love, protection and care.’
She thanked those who are showing their support through donations for ‘standing with them, and with us, during this unbearable time’.
On January 22, Rueda appeared at a court in Coin, close to Alhaurin el Grande near Marbella, charged with Ms Hart’s murder for a hearing which took place behind closed doors and lasted more than four hours.
According to a judicial source Rueda said nothing during the proceedings as the case and spoke only through his lawyer, asking for a mental health assessment.
During the hearing it emerged the couple were in the process of divorcing and Rueda was given a four-month suspended sentence in December for breaching a restraining order given after he was charged with threatening to kill Ms Hart but not yet tried.
The expat (pictured here with her mother) lived in the residential estate of Alhaurin el Grande, a 50-minute drive inland from Marbella
Ms Hart’s children, her 11-year-old son and twin seven-year-old girls, were joined by their grandmother Sue and Victoria’s sister Jessica Cussen yesterday, who thanked the 250-strong crowd for coming to the minute’s silence
She reported him to police in October, with a friend named only as Lorena telling local media he had chillingly told her she would ‘only be leaving the house feet first’ and she had installed cameras as a result of what he said.
Rueda was given a restraining order following the incident but breached it and handed a four month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after he appeared at her house three times in 18 days in November – prosecutors had asked for six months jail.
In the incident three months ago, he kicked her in the hip and he was then ordered not to go within 300 metres of the house where she and their children – a boy aged 11 and twin seven-year-old girls lived.
The court also heard that in March 2024 Rueda had been convicted of previously threatening Ms Hart and he was given 31 days community service, a firearms ban and a four-month restraining order.
Once the sentence had been served, they resumed living together but the relationship continued to deteriorate.
After the hearing as he was driven away in a police van bystanders shouted ‘Assassino’ (Killer) and hurled insults at the vehicle as it sped off.
On January 26, Ms Hart’s heartbroken mother Sue, her sister Jemma Cussen and the children had held a minute’s silence for her on the steps of the town hall which was attended by more than 250 people.
At the poignant event, white balloons were released by Ms Hart’s children who had been joined by youngsters from their school.
Afterwards Mrs Cussen told the tearful crowd: ‘Thank you all for coming today, all I have to say at this moment is, we want justice for Victoria, and we will get justice for Victoria. That’s all for now.’
Bystanders – many in tears – applauded her as her husband James stood behind her and, raised a hand towards them and blew them a kiss in acknowledgement of their support.
On her Facebook page, Mrs Cussen, who also lives in Alhaurin el Grande, posted the silhouette of a woman, circled by a purple ribbon with the phrase ‘Alto a la violencia domestica’ (Stop domestic violence).
Spanish media reported that Rueda was a former semi-professional footballer who previously played in Spain’s Tercera Federación.
It also emerged that the victim was registered on VioGen, which is Spain’s monitoring and safeguarding system for women who face gender or domestic violence.
Neighbours claimed that the couple’s relationship had been on the rocks prior to her death and they had been in the process of separating.
They told local media organisation Sur that the woman had been out with friends on Friday afternoon, and that her partner had sent repeated messages throughout the evening trying to find out where she was.
Alhaurin el Grande Town Council said in a previous statement: ‘The Ayuntamiento de Alhaurín el Grande calls on the citizens to participate next Monday, January 26, in a citizens’ mourning rally, which will take place at 17:00 in the Town Hall Square, where a minute of silence will be kept in memory of the woman killed in our town, victim of gender based violence.
‘We express again the strongest repulsion and condemnation of this terrible act of violence, as well as solidarity and support to the victim’s family and close people.
‘The City Council reiterates its commitment to the fight against gender-based violence and calls for unity in society to eradicate any form of violence against women.’