Woman in Benalmádena killed after ex-partner sets home on fire despite VioGén algorithm flagging medium risk

Summary

Lina, a woman in the Spanish town of Benalmádena, was killed in January after her ex-partner allegedly entered her home and set it on fire. Prior to her death, she had reported violent episodes to the police and was assessed using VioGén, an algorithm-based system that evaluates the risk of repeat domestic violence. VioGén classified her risk level as "medium," which meant she would be followed up by police within 30 days. Lina had requested a restraining order against her ex-partner, but it was denied by a gender violence court in Malaga. Her death has raised concerns about the effectiveness of VioGén in accurately predicting risk and protecting victims of domestic violence. VioGén is used nationwide in Spain, except in the Basque Country and Catalonia, and is a key tool in police decision-making for resource allocation.