Trial of two PSP officers from Olhão for killing Moroccan citizen begins in September
Two police officers accused of beating to death a Moroccan citizen in March 2024 will stand trial at Faro Court on 8 September.
PSP officers from Olhão tried for death of Moroccan immigrant from 8 September
The trial of two PSP officers from Olhão, accused of kidnapping and homicide of a Moroccan citizen, is scheduled to begin on 8 September at Faro Court. According to Correio da Manhã, the first session is scheduled for 09h10 and is expected to last throughout the day, with two further sessions scheduled for 11 and 25 of the same month.
The Public Prosecutor's charge
The Public Prosecutor's Office filed charges in July 2025, charging the two defendants with assaults that resulted in the death of Aissa Ait Aissa, following an unlawful detention that occurred in March 2024 in the municipality of Olhão. The victim was admitted for 20 days to the Intensive Care Unit at Faro Hospital before dying on 28 March 2024 from brain contusion.
What happened on the night of the crime
The incident originated from a report of disturbances at a supermarket in Olhão. The officers, who were on duty between 15h30 and 00h00, went to the location and found Aissa Ait Aissa and Hassan Ait Rahou in the vicinity of the store. Both, according to the charge, had previously consumed narcotics and displayed altered behaviour — they had opened packaging of food products and eaten inside the store, insulting a member of staff.
The police officers handcuffed the two men with their hands behind their backs and placed them in the rear seat of the patrol car. The supermarket manager did not wish to file a complaint, but the officers maintained the detention without taking the detainees to the police station.
Diversion of route and assaults
Instead of heading to the police station, the defendants travelled to Pechão, a locality near Olhão but outside their patrol area. On a municipal road, they threw Hassan Ait Rahou — who had meanwhile fallen asleep — to the roadside and removed Aissa Ait Aissa from the vehicle.
"When he was outside the vehicle, for reasons not yet established, the defendants, acting in concert, struck several blows to the head and face of Aissa Ait Aissa", the charge states, adding that at least one of the blows was struck with an object. The victim was handcuffed and, according to the Public Prosecutor, had no opportunity to defend himself.
Position of the Public Prosecutor
The Public Prosecutor considered that the two officers "acted freely and knowingly, well aware that their conduct was prohibited by criminal law" and that they "gravely abused" the authority with which they were invested. The Public Prosecutor further maintains that the defendants knew that their behaviour could cause the victim's death.
A source close to the case confirmed to Lusa news agency the details of the trial schedule, with the first session taking place next month at Faro Court.
Source: Correio da Manhã