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The publisher stops the sale of Hate following Ruth Ortiz's complaint, but claims to be invoking freedom of expression. The author, Luisgé Martín, also defends the work as a legitimate literary exercise.
The publisher Anagram has temporarily suspended the distribution of the book Hate, written by Luisgé Martín, based on conversations, letters and meetings with José Bretón, convicted of murdering his children Ruth and Jose in 2011. The release was scheduled for next March 26, but the measure was taken after the Ruth Ortiz's complaint, mother of the children, and the intervention of the Córdoba Prosecutor's Office.
Ruth Ortiz's petition, supported by the Andalusian Victim Assistance Service (SAVA) and by the Prosecutor's Office, argues that the work violates his right to honor, personal and family privacy, and also contravenes the Organic Law on Comprehensive Protection of Children and Adolescents.
After receiving the notice, the Córdoba Prosecutor's Office transferred the case to the Barcelona Juvenile Prosecutor's Office, which has already requested the Court of First Instance number 39 of Barcelona the book's precautionary suspension. Anagrama, for its part, has decided to halt its distribution while awaiting the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Anagrama's response: "We are within our rights to publish this work."
In an official statement, Anagram defends his right to publish Hate, arguing that it is a work protected by the right to freedom of literary creation enshrined in the Spanish Constitution. The publisher claims to be “fully aware of the monstrosity of the crimes committed by José Bretón” and also of the sensitivity it generates, but believes that literature has the function of exploring “complex realities”, as authors such as have done Emmanuel Carrère either Truman Capote.
“The literary treatment of Hate It distances itself from and rejects any intention other than to present the reader with the murderer's evil without justifying or excusing the crime, but on the contrary, showing its horror," the publisher states.
Luisgé Martín: “I don’t give Bretón a voice, I take it away from him.”
Shortly after Anagrama's announcement, the book's author, Luisgé Martín, has also spoken publicly defending his work. According to the writer, Hate It was drafted with “the greatest respect for the victims” and is not intended to give a voice to the murderer, but rather “deny your version of events” and expose their contradictions.
“Hate"In my humble opinion, it serves to show the labyrinths of infamy and the vileness of a murderer. Nothing more. And nothing less," says Martín.
The author emphasizes that the book can reopen wounds, but it does not do so to a greater extent than other titles or productions such as the series “Breton, the Devil's Gaze”, issued in 2023. It also argues that the treatment of crime is reflective, ethical and philosophical, and compares his work with classics of the genre true crime, as In cold blood Capote's or The adversary de Carrère.
Divided opinions: Literature or disrespect for victims?
The book's publication has generated intense controversy. Ruth Ortiz has publicly stated that "murderers cannot be given a voice" and has found support from figures such as Patricia Ramírez, mother of Gabriel Cruz, who has also expressed her rejection of the work.
From the legal field, experts consulted by different media consider that there could be a judicial seizure of the work, although they emphasize that in most recent cases, the courts have given priority to the right to freedom of expression over the right to honor or privacy.
Meanwhile, the debate continues: To what extent does literature have the right to narrate real, atrocious crimes without diminishing the pain of the victims?