Testimonials of witnesses were heard at the trial of José Castelo Branco for domestic violence against Betty Grafstein, where there are reports that describe control and control behaviors by the socialite.
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07/10/2026
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News to Minutes
Dtook place on Tuesday, October 6, another session of the trial for aggravated domestic violence of José Castelo Branco in the Cascais Court. Several witnesses of the prosecution were heard among them Abel Dias, close friend of Betty Grafstein, and still a former maid of the couple.
According to SIC News, Abel Dias revealed that he witnessed verbal attacks and control and domain behaviors.
The former employee, who worked at the couple's home between 2008 and 2010, said that there were also discussions between the two and that the socialite forced Betty to take strict diets to stay thin.
These two witnesses reported no physical assaults.
Still according to the channel, during the afternoon they were heard from the CUF Hospital, where Betty was hospitalized several months after an alleged push by her husband in April 2024.
The testimony of Maria da Luz Moreira, the couple's former employee. Castle White wouldn't let Betty eat
According to JNMaria da Luz worked at the house of the two in New York, and revealed that the marchand d’art did not let the woman eat so that she would not gain weight.
“[Betty] attacked the fridge when Castelo Branco fell asleep”He confessed, even explaining that he once found Betty on a ladder trying to get food out of the fridge. In addition, Maria da Luz said that the socialite said that the woman was so fat that the clothes no longer served her.
In addition to control over food, Betty was still obliged to wear makeup against her will, revealed the former maid. Maria da Luz also reported an episode in which the two tried to dress Betty. “I was seeing that we broke his arms”, it can be read in the publication.
Abel Dias reveals: “He called her old”
Betty's friend spoke to the reporters outside the courthouse and confessed:
“ His treatment for her was almost pushy. [...] He was like that with his mother too, and I saw and I caught his attention. He wanted her to be thin, so she'd get right. ‘Looks like Notre Dame's hunchback» [said Castle White to Betty], nice, isn't it? With some friends they called it "old"“, according to SIC News.
“I’ve never met anyone so bad.” Betty breaks silence on trial
On September 29, Betty gave her statement by video conferencing from the United States, where she explained that she was beaten several times during the 30 years they were together.
"Oh my God. He assaulted me so many times [...] Punches, I was punched. I never knew where he was going to hit me”, he said, adding that it was “everywhere, so often, so often” and “mainly punched”.
“ I have never met anyone so bad in this world”, said the socialite cited by the CM. “[He] is a maniac, the meanest person you can find in your life,” added Betty, quoted by the News Journal, saying she was “fearing that he would kill her.”.