PSP director expresses solidarity with officer Bruno Pinto condemned for death of Odair Moniz
Luís Carrilho expressed "great solidarity" with the officer condemned to three and a half years of suspended sentence. The PSP awaits the formal judgment to decide on his return.
PSP awaits formal judgment before deciding condemned officer's return
The national director of the PSP, Luís Carrilho, declared on Tuesday a "word of great solidarity" with officer Bruno Pinto, condemned the day before to three years and six months of suspended sentence for the death of Odair Moniz, which occurred in Cova da Moura, Amadora, in October 2024. According to Público, Carrilho simultaneously lamented the loss of a human life.
"It is always sad, it is always regrettable the loss of a human life, but I want to express here a word of great solidarity with our police officer, with Bruno, I am certain that he wanted to, and as was proven yesterday in court, do the best", said Carrilho, at the sidelines of the celebrations of the 148 years of the PSP District Command of Portalegre, in statements to the Lusa news agency.
The official further emphasised respect for the judicial decision and the role of the institution in the Portuguese justice system. "The sentence has not yet become final, we must respect the decisions of the courts, Portugal is a Democratic State of Law and the PSP is proud to be part of the justice system", he said.
Return to duty depends on formal judgment
On Monday, the PSP spokesman, Sérgio Soares, indicated that the institution awaits the formal knowledge of the judgment before making a statement about the possible return of Bruno Pinto to his duties. "We await the formal knowledge of the judicial decision", declared Soares to Lusa.
The court also considered that it was not within its competence to decide on the suspension of the officer's exercise of functions — a matter that will fall to the PSP itself to evaluate. The Public Prosecutor had requested this suspension, but the panel of judges referred the decision to the institution.
Court: there was no knife and there was excessive means
The reading of the judgment took place at Sintra Court. The panel of judges established as proven the majority of the facts contained in the Public Prosecutor's accusation and concluded that Odair Moniz was not carrying any blade weapon at the moment of the shootings.
"Abundant evidence was produced that Odair did not have any knife. Neither the colleague who accompanied him, nor the other witnesses, no one saw any blade, any knife at the moment the shootings occurred", said the judge, adding that "there was a legitimate defence, but with excessive means".
Nevertheless, the court recognised the existence of "very special circumstances": at a moment of great physical proximity between Odair Moniz and officer Bruno Pinto, threats of assault occurred on the part of Odair. This context was taken into account in determining the sentence.
Suspended sentence and disciplinary proceedings ongoing
With the recognition of "excessive means", the sentencing framework applicable to the crime of homicide — between eight and 16 years of imprisonment — was reduced to a range of one to ten years. The court set the sentence at three years and six months, with execution suspended.
In parallel, the General Inspectorate of Internal Administration (IGAI) is maintaining an ongoing disciplinary proceeding against the PSP officer, independent of the judicial outcome.
Source: Público