Lorry driver sentenced to six and a half years for firing more than 20 shots at neighbour in Tomar
Santarém Court has convicted a heavy goods vehicle driver for firing more than 20 shotgun blasts at an architect neighbour. The sentence is six years and six months of effective imprisonment.
Driver fires more than 20 times at architect neighbour in Tomar and sentenced to six and a half years
Santarém Court has convicted a 48-year-old lorry driver to six years and six months of effective imprisonment for firing more than 20 blasts from an illegal shotgun at an architect neighbour in the Serra locality in the municipality of Tomar. The case was reported by Correio da Manhã.
The events date back to 8 August of last year. It all began at the local community hall in the village, where the defendant assaulted the neighbour — with whom he had maintained a long-standing enmity — with a punch. There had been previous threats between the two before the incident.
Shots fired in public area after report to GNR
About two hours after the physical assault, the lorry driver learned that the victim had filed a complaint with the GNR. Angered by the report, he went home to fetch an illegal shotgun and returned to the street. He fired approximately 15 shots into the air in the public area and four directly at the entrance door and residence of the architect, whilst uttering death threats.
The architect, fearing for his life, took refuge in his office together with his wife and contacted the GNR again.
Shot fired at GNR officers
When the patrol arrived at the scene, the defendant fired once more into the air, this time to prevent the officers from approaching. He then locked himself in his own home, where he remained until he voluntarily surrendered to the Guard, also handing over the weapon used in the shootings.
Offences and criminal history
The panel of judges convicted the lorry driver — who was already in pre-trial detention — of three separate offences: damage with violence, possession of a prohibited weapon and resistance and coercion of a public official, for the resistance shown to the GNR.
The Social Report included in the court decision revealed that the defendant had previously been convicted in France in 2006 to six years of imprisonment for a rape offence.
Source: Correio da Manhã