Latest news and stories about police conduct in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Public Prosecutor has appealed the suspended sentence of the PSP officer involved in the fatal shooting of Odair Moniz, arguing that the act was intentional and warrants imprisonment and dismissal from the force.
The trial concerning the death of Odaír Moniz reaches its final phase at the Sintra Court, with closing arguments set to commence following the testimony of a final PJ inspector.
According to the Ministry, the operations took place “after successive contact with the protesters”
The Lisbon Court of Appeal considers that the decision to dismiss the case was not sufficiently justified.
The case involving police officers from the Rato station is being heard behind closed doors by Judge João Rodrigues.
The court did not find it proven that Rita Rodrigues insulted the two officers, who also accused her of attempting to prevent the arrest of a street vendor. The officers are currently imprisoned due to the Rato case.
The appeal argues that if a sentence is to be imposed, it should be 'lower'. Regarding compensation, the defence for officer Bruno Pinto argues that if it is to be paid, it should be charged to the State.
The family of Odair Moniz has appealed the sentence that convicted police officer Bruno Pinto for the death of the Cape Verdean man. The appeal, filed by lawyer José Semedo Fernandes, challenges the court's assessment of evidence and the legal reasoning, specifically contesting the finding of 'excessive self-defence' and arguing for a conviction based on direct intent. The family seeks an effective prison sentence of over five years, arguing that the current suspended sentence of three years and six months is insufficient given the gravity of the facts, the use of a firearm by an officer on duty, and the failure to adhere to police protocols regarding the use of force. The appeal also requests an increase in compensation for non-pecuniary damages to at least 50,000 euros per family member.
Bruno Pinto was sentenced to three and a half years of suspended imprisonment. The decision comes despite the sentence not yet being final, as the Public Prosecutor's Office has appealed.
In another bizarre twist in the already bizarre story of a young PSP officer condemned for ‘an excess of self defence’ which left an unarmed civilian shot dead in the The post PSP agent handed suspended sentence for killing unarmed civilian returns to work appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The prosecutor states that there are still suspects, mostly PSP officers, to be detained and subjected to coercive measures, and that additional interrogations of the defendants are also required.
A witness to the homicide of Pedro Almeida used social media to make accusations. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated.
“They refused to provide assistance because, in their words, ‘they were on duty at Pingo Doce and not on the street’”, says woman who claims to have witnessed a stabbing in Cais do Sodré last Sunday.
The minor who committed the homicide went to the police station 15 days ago, but the complaint was rejected. He was told to call back later during business hours.
The Public Prosecution Service is pushing for an effective prison sentence and the dismissal from the Public Security Police (PSP) of officer Bruno Pinto, who has already returned to duty. This is detailed in the appeal filed regarding the case of Odair Moniz, a resident of Cova da Moura killed during a police operation in 2024. According to Expresso, prosecutor Pedro Pereira argues that the officer acted with 'direct intent' to kill the victim, completely rejecting the claim of self-defence. In June, the Sintra Court sentenced Bruno Pinto to a three-and-a-half-year suspended prison sentence and allowed him to return to his duties. The prosecutor argues that the officer's actions demonstrate a grave abuse of his position and that someone unable to control their impulses in such a demanding profession cannot maintain the trust required of a PSP officer. The appeal will now be reviewed by the Lisbon Court of Appeal.
The victim identified the officers who beat him at the Rato Police Station through photographs and a police lineup. Only one of the four identified individuals was charged by the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Appeals court judges highlighted the “disrespect for their duties” and the “inability to exercise restraint” of the defendants, all of whom are officers from the Rato and Bairro Alto stations in Lisbon.
Pedro Costa is currently a trainer for new officers at the Police Practical School.
Hundreds of people marched through central Lisbon this evening to protest against the suspended sentence handed to a PSP police officer convicted of shooting dead Cape Verdean chef Odair Moniz. The post Hundreds rally in Lisbon over suspended sentence for policeman who killed Odair Moniz appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Luís Carrilho acknowledged that this is a serious case due to the involvement of a PSP officer, stating that “police officers have more responsibility” and maintained that the police force has “a very strict code.”
The Public Prosecutor's Office announced this Wednesday that it will appeal the three-year and six-month suspended sentence of the police officer who killed Odair Moniz in Cova da Moura.
The Vida Justa movement claims that a recent court decision effectively legitimises police brutality.
After months of court hearings, Sintra judges have ruled that Bruno Pinto, the young PSP agent who shot dead Cape Verdean chef Odair Moniz after the father of two ‘fled’ The post PSP agent receives suspended jail sentence for killing of unarmed chef in Cova da Moura appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The court concluded that Odair Moniz was not in possession of any knife at the time the shots were fired by officer Bruno Pinto.
Eight months after the trial began, the verdict in the case of Odair Moniz, who was killed during a police stop in Cova da Moura, will be delivered. The reading of the judgment is scheduled for 3:30 pm this Monday, June 15, at the Sintra Court. At that time, it will be known whether Public Security Police (PSP) officer Bruno Pinto will be convicted for the death of Odair Moniz. In closing arguments held in May, the Public Prosecutor's Office requested the officer's conviction for homicide, arguing there was no self-defence. Prosecutors stated it should be considered unproven that Moniz was armed with a knife. Judicial Police (PJ) professionals testified that no knife existed, noting that surveillance footage does not show Moniz using one. If convicted, the officer faces a prison sentence of eight to 16 years, and the prosecution has requested he be barred from serving in the police force.
A PSP officer admitted that despite the rigorous screening process for police candidates, it is impossible to guarantee that incidents contrary to the law and human rights will not occur.
Complaints from Chloé Daquet and Rita Rodrigues bring the total number of victims of police aggression to 15. The second victim was accused by the officers of two counts of aggravated insult.
The trial began seven months ago. Earlier this morning, the chief inspector on the case stated it was practically “impossible” for Odair to have manipulated the knife found at the scene. The prosecutor dismissed the evidence regarding the knife.
Luís Neves stresses that what happened at the Rato police station should never have occurred and regrets that the case remained “in a sphere of impunity for too long”, but assures that “the vast majority of police officers are on the side of the law” and promises to work to ensure that, following the judicial process, “facts of this nature” do not happen again.
Whoever wears a uniform represents the rule of law and must know how to honour and dignify it.
