Laia Martin: Professional pianist faces jail sentence over noise pollution

Spanish professional pianist Laia Martin is on trial in Girona after her family’s downstairs neighbor, Sonia Bosom, accused her of causing psychological harm.

Prosecutors are seeking a 20-month prison sentence for Laia Martin whose former neighbor is suing over alleged noise pollution.

They are also demanding that the 27-year-old be banned from professional piano playing for six months.

A verdict is expected within two weeks.

Laia Martin’s parents are also being sued and face a fine if found guilty.

Sonia Bosom alleges that the pianist – a conservatoire student at the time – practiced her piano for eight hours, five days a week from 2003-2007.

The alleged victim said she now has such a horror of pianos, she cannot stand even seeing them in films, reports say.

Sonia Bosom’s lawyer said she had endured “four years of suffering,” the Associated Press news agency reports.

In their defense, the Martin family said they had tried to soundproof the room, and that the practice had not been as constant as claimed.

The public prosecutor had initially sought a jail term of over seven years for Laia Martin.