Father sentenced to five years for stabbing son to death in Montijo during power cut
Richard Silva, 49, was sentenced for gross negligent manslaughter after killing his son Bryan Félix, 17, during a quarrel with a neighbour in April 2024.
Father kills son by mistake in quarrel in Montijo and is sentenced to five years in prison
Richard Silva, 49, was sentenced to five years in prison by Almada Court for stabbing his own son to death during a quarrel with a neighbour on the day of the general power cut in Montijo. According to reporting by Correio da Manhã, the crime dates back to April of last year.
The defendant, a forklift operator, left his home armed with two kitchen knives after the neighbour accused his minor son, Bryan Félix, 17, of having assaulted his wife. The prosecution contended that Richard acted "in defence of his son and with homicidal intent".
The escalation of the quarrel and the fatal stabbing
During the confrontation, the neighbour's wife was the first to be struck by Richard, receiving a blow to the shoulder. The neighbour attempted to flee, but ended up being attacked in the street by Richard and by Bryan himself, who also used a stone to strike him.
It was at that moment that Richard stabbed his son in the back, puncturing his lung. With the general power cut in progress, it was impossible to call for emergency services, so the father himself had to transport Bryan by car to the hospital. The young man ultimately died at the hospital.
Arrested days after the crime
The Judiciary Police detained Richard Silva several days after the homicide. The defendant was charged with simple homicide, an offence with a minimum sentence exceeding eight years in prison.
However, the judges considered that the man never intended to kill his son, opting for the qualification of gross negligent manslaughter through use of a weapon, according to Jornal de Notícias. The sentence was thus set at five years in prison.
The court also convicted him of attempted homicide with regard to the neighbour with whom he had the altercation that sparked the tragedy.
Source: Correio da Manhã