Cascais Court delays decision on 4-year-old girl, sister of teenager who killed mother in Oeiras
The court wants to hear from the children's father before deciding the girl's future. The hearing will resume in September.
Decision on future of 4-year-old girl postponed until September
Cascais Court postponed on Wednesday the decision concerning the future of the younger sister of the 15-year-old boy who killed his mother in Dafundo, Oeiras, according to Correio da Manhã. The court intends to hear from the children's father before ruling, and the hearing was rescheduled for September.
The children's relatives have expressed their intention to take in the four-year-old girl. Her aunt and grandmother are the main candidates to care for her, but the final decision remains suspended until the court has gathered all elements considered necessary.
Defence lawyer criticises State's response
On leaving the court, defence lawyer Cristiana Carvalho levelled criticism at the State's response. According to the lawyer, there was a request for assistance dated 4 August to support the two minors. "It was already known that the children would be handed over to someone, but it took so long...", Carvalho stated. The lawyer admitted she would demand accountability from the State, but ruled out any claim for compensation for now, with the immediate focus on resolving the child's future.
The crime and family context
The 15-year-old boy killed his mother, Gabriela Barbosa, aged 32, with a chokehold in Dafundo, municipality of Oeiras. The teenager had been flagged by the Commission for Child Protection and had requested to be institutionalised after filing a complaint against his mother. According to the minor, his mother repeatedly assaulted his four-year-old sister and threatened to kill her.
The children's father is imprisoned for domestic violence — specifically for assault against Gabriela Barbosa — which is why the children were living with their mother in Oeiras at the time of the crime.
Aunt described teenager as "desperate"
The minors' aunt, who participated in several video calls with social workers in Portugal, reported the warning signs her nephew frequently displayed. "He was desperate. The truth is that anything could have gone wrong. Either for him or for her", the woman said, who together with the children's grandmother intends to take in the four-year-old girl.
The 15-year-old boy will spend three months in a closed residential centre.
Source: Correio da Manhã