Latest news and stories about domestic violence in legal in Portugal for expats and residents.
The Constitutional Court has struck down a legal provision that allowed domestic violence victims to provide testimony without alerting the accused. The ruling has sparked concern among magistrates regarding the potential for witness intimidation and delays in judicial proceedings.
A court in Vila Nova de Foz Côa ordered pre-trial detention (prisão preventiva) for Cédric Prizzon, a former French police officer suspected of killing his current and former partners. The 42-year-old faces eight charges, including qualified homicide, kidnapping, and domestic violence against his 18-month-old daughter. Prizzon was arrested near Bragança after traveling over 1,000 kilometers from France. Residents should note the suspect is currently held at the Guarda Prison while the investigation continues.
The Supreme Court has established that 'future memory statements' made by domestic violence victims during initial inquiries can be admitted as evidence, even if the victim refuses to testify at trial, aiming to protect victims from repetitive trauma.
Carla Tavares, the newly elected president of the Socialist Women, outlines her agenda to enhance political training for militants and introduce legislative reforms concerning labour law and public safety.
The government is proposing legislative changes to enhance the role of victim and witness testimonies in domestic violence cases, aiming to improve the effectiveness of criminal responses and reduce case dismissals. Justice Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice emphasizes the importance of these reforms, which include standardizing the collection of statements for future reference, particularly for vulnerable victims like children. Even if victims do not testify at trial, their prior statements will be treated as valid evidence. The proposal follows a report from the Superior Council of the Judiciary and has garnered support from the Portuguese Association for Victim Support (APAV), which advocates for improved victim rights and a gender perspective in judicial decisions. The government claims it has the necessary resources to implement these changes and is working to expand support networks for victims of violence.
A 25-year-old man was arrested for domestic violence and placed in pre-trial detention.
The man, accused of death threats and physical assault against his wife and daughter, attacked a PSP officer during his arrest. He is prohibited from approaching the victim.
The suspect allegedly assaulted her parents with frying pans to obtain money for alcohol and drugs. She has been remanded in custody.
Suspect was arrested by the GNR.
The alleged aggressor was presented to the Fronteira Judicial Court and was released.
The couple was in the process of separating. The victim was moving out on the day of the crime and already had her bags in the car.
A scene of jealousy motivated yet another argument. The murderer assaulted the victim for over an hour.
The couple was reportedly in the process of separating.
They must also file a criminal complaint.
The sixth part of this Saturday's 'Doa a Quem Doer'.
INTERVIEW || Liliana Meireles de Sousa has transformed her suffering into a book. “A luz que sobrou” (The Light That Remained) is fiction, but is heavily inspired by the abusive relationship she lived in for over six years. Liliana openly tells her story so that other women know they are not alone and so that society wakes up, once and for all, to this problem that can affect anyone: “The strongest person in the world, the richest person, anyone can fall into the hands of a narcissist or a manipulator.”
In 2025, there was a domestic violence case involving the couple, but the woman did not provide a statement and the case was eventually archived.
He had a 3-year suspended sentence for domestic violence. He was arrested again in August. Even so, he continued to threaten his ex-partner in Sintra.
A 47-year-old man has been remanded in custody on suspicion of domestic violence against his ex-partner in Sintra
Man arrested by the PSP. He was remanded in custody.
A former employee revealed in court that she caught the former jeweller on top of a stepladder looking for food.
Abel Dias testified this Tuesday in the context of the domestic violence trial.
Another session of the trial in which socialite José Castelo Branco is accused of domestic violence against his wife, Betty Grafstein, is taking place this Tuesday.
The man has a criminal record for domestic violence and was arrested by the GNR.
The Casa Flor LAPS, a shelter for women and children fleeing domestic abuse, has opened in Cascais to provide urgent support. Founded by Lapo Elkann and managed in partnership with the local institution Espaço V, the facility aims to remove bureaucratic barriers for victims. The project, which was inspired by a proposal from a local student in the 2022 Participatory Budget, offers communal living spaces to foster peer support and recovery, with professional assistance from doctors and psychologists.
The GNR specified that the physical and psychological violence also occurred in Salvaterra de Magos, the town where the man resided at the time of his arrest.
An heir to the Fiat fortune has established a refuge in Portugal to support families facing domestic violence.
An heir to the Fiat fortune has established a refuge in Portugal to support families facing domestic violence.
Left Bloc MP Fabian Figueiredo appeared this Wednesday on RTP's Grande Entrevista, with the conversation focused on his experience of domestic violence involving his siblings and mother. This evening's interview revisits an article written a few weeks ago by Fabian Figueiredo - 'The violence of normality' - regarding his experience of that reality, which had a significant impact on Portuguese society.
Since 2022, 180,000 euros have been spent supporting victims separated from their abusers. Parliament is discussing changes to the scheme, with the budgetary impact yet to be assessed.
Crimes have already caused the deaths of 28 people this year. Some of these victims had minor children who were left alone because the father is the murderer.
