Funeral Today For Two Kids Killed By Mother In Hotel Miramar Lloret de Mar on Spain’s Costa Brava

A funeral for the two kids suffocated by their British mother Lianne Smith in a hotel room in Spain is to be held today Tuesday in the resort Lloret de Mar where they were killed.

The bodies of Rebecca Smith, five, and her 11-month-old brother Daniel, were found three weeks ago in a hotel in Lloret de Mar on Spain's Costa Brava.

Lianne Smith, 43, admitted suffocating them with a plastic bag because she feared they would be taken into care by social services.

In a letter written before the murders, Mrs Smith said there had been an attempt to take her children away.

"Fortunately I got out of the city with them and gave them a short and wonderful holiday before the events you will start to hear about in the press," she wrote.

She is currently on remand in Girona prison awaiting trial for the double murder and it is not thought that she will be allowed to attend the funeral at the Sant Roma church in Lloret de Mar.

It is thought that the two bodies will then be transferred to a cemetery on the outskirts of the resort for cremation.

Mrs Smith suffocated the children and then tried to commit suicide on 18 May, ten days after their father was arrested on child sex charges at their home in Barcelona.

Martin Smith, 45, had been on the run from British police with his family since jumping bail in December 2007. He had appeared on a Crimestoppers Most Wanted list and was detained by Catalan police under a European arrest warrant.

On Monday he appeared in Carlisle Crown Court accused of a string of sex offences on a minor and failing to answer bail. A provisional trial date was set for November 1.

Last week he was attacked with a snooker cue by a fellow inmate in Durham Prison and a small bandage was visible over his right ear as he arrived in court.

A spokesman for the British Embassy in Madrid refused to confirm whether any family members would be attending the funeral, or what arrangements had been made for the children's ashes.

"It would not be appropriate to comment on a private matter," he said.

 

 

 

IVA/VAT goes up in Spain from July 1. Here there are three rates of VAT with the very basic items and foods charged at a 4% rate which remains unchanged. The reduced rate of 7% today goes to 8% and the normal rate of 16% goes to 18%.

The 4% rate – to be kept at 4%
This is applied to items considered to be of basic need. It includes basic bread, frozen dough, eggs, cheese, milk, beans and fruit and vegetables.
Books, magazines and newspapers.
School material with the exception of electronic items.
Medicines for human use.
Vehicles for the disabled, wheel chairs and collective transport for the disabled.
Prosthesis and implants.
Official protection housing.

The 7% rate – to increase to 8%
Foodstuffs in general, with the exception of those in the 4% band, soft drinks.
Animals destined for human consumption or breeding.
Items used in agricultural, farming and forestry activities, such as seeds and fertilisers.
Contact lenses and glasses.
Disabled lifts and items for the diagnosis of illnesses.
Health assistance services, social services, and dental work.
Imported artworks and antiques.
Hairdressing.
The handing over of housing, including garages and annexes.
House construction (between promoter and contractor).
Services supplied by artists and technicians.
Sports, cultural and recreational services, exhibitions and fairs.
Funeral services.
Hotel and restaurants, cleaning of streets and public gardens.
Rubbish collection.
Transport of passengers and motorway tolls.

The General Rate – now 16% to rise to 18%
All other products, including alcoholic drinks, tobacco, animals used in bullfighting, agricultural machinery.
CD’s.
Devices for the diagnosis and monitoring of pregnancy.
Television and radio services.

There are only a few items in Spain which are exempt from IVA – They include plane or holiday tickets when the destination is outside the country, medical services, education services and property rentals.

According to the Spanish Consumers and Users Confederation, CEACCU, the average impact of today’s changes will be 350 € a year, which means that each family will have to spend some 30 € more to reach the end of the month, and that does not include the impact of any price rises from inflation.

The higher rate increase in alcohol and tobacco will cost the average family some 12 € a year more, and petrol and diesel costs will be some 85 € per year more. Other transport costs will be 43 € higher over the year.

It’s calculated that the increases will bring the Spanish state 5.15 billion €, of which 1.9 billion will be collected in this year.

The good news is that 70% of shops say that they will absorb part of the increases to keep their sales, already damaged by the recession.
Eroski will discount the equivalent amount of the VAT increase on a second purchase.
Lidl has registered ‘before the notary’ the freezing of their current prices.
Carrefour is also absorbing the increases as are Inditex, H&M and Cortefiel, for now at least.
Ford has carried out an advertising campaign which compares its dealerships to financial havens.

In addition the IVA increase comes at the same time as the start of the summer sales in much of the country, so many won’t really note the price hike for a couple of months.

That said the Confederation of Consumers and Users warn that some will try and use the date as an excuse to put prices up. A coffee which cost 1€ 10 should not cost 1€ 15 from today for example.

Services which are linked to caring are unchanged as part of the 4% band, and VAT on reform work on property is being reduced from the 16% band to the 8% band from today.