Prosecution seeks maximum 25-year sentence for couple accused of killing elderly man in Aljustrel
The Public Prosecution Service has sought a sentence close to 25 years for the couple tried in Beja for robbery, kidnapping and homicide of an 80-year-old man. The judgment is scheduled to be delivered on 17 November.
Final arguments in trial for elderly man's homicide in Aljustrel: prosecution seeks maximum sentence
The Public Prosecution Service argued on Wednesday for the conviction of the couple being tried in Beja Court for robbery, kidnapping and homicide of an 80-year-old man, requesting a sentence close to the maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment. According to the Observador, the lawyers for both defendants confirmed the prosecution's request after the end of the morning session.
The panel of judges scheduled the delivery of the judgment for 17 November at 14:00, according to information provided by the defendants' lawyers to the Lusa agency.
Defendants with contradictory versions
Rita Moleiro, lawyer for the female defendant, argued that her client "did not participate" in the crimes, alluding to the "fact that she was present under threat from the defendant". The lawyer requested the acquittal of the woman, invoking the principle of in dubio pro reo — in doubt, in favour of the defendant.
Margarida Godinho Costa, lawyer for the man, stressed that her client's version does not match that of his former partner. The defendant claims that he did not assault the elderly man and that it was the woman who did so, except that they threw him into a well.
"The defendant has mitigating factors, such as remorse, cooperation with the authorities and the fact that he lives in an area marked by high drug consumption. He is deeply remorseful. He was dragged into a situation that got out of control," Godinho Costa stated.
What happened in the first session
In Tuesday's session, the defendant accused his former partner of striking the elderly man's head "two or three times" with an iron object before they threw him into the well. The female defendant, for her part, stated that her ex-husband "struck the victim's head with a gun" — both at the elderly man's house in the village of Jungeiros, in the municipality of Aljustrel, and near the well — denying any involvement on her part.
The facts of the charge
The couple, both aged 40 and in pre-trial detention, lived in a de facto union. Each is accused of one count of qualified homicide, one count of robbery and one count of aggravated kidnapping.
According to the Public Prosecution Service, on 16 January of this year, the two went to the house of their 80-year-old neighbour in the village of Jungeiros, where the defendant struck him on the head with an object with a blade. Regular drug consumers, the two took money and the keys to the victim's car and placed the elderly man in the boot of the vehicle, then travelling to various locations in the area to buy and consume crack.
In the early hours of the following morning, they went to a well near Ervidel, also in the municipality of Aljustrel. They broke the padlock sealing the metal cover, threw the victim inside, replaced the cover and left the scene.
The defendant also faces a separate charge for attempted robbery that occurred that same night.
Source: Observador