MP asks almost 25 years in prison for couple accused of killing elderly

O Public prosecutor (MP) today asked for a prison sentence close to the 25-year maximum limit for the couple tried in the Beja Court for stealing, kidnapping and killing an elderly person, revealed the defendants' lawyers.

At the end of this morning's session, when a witness was heard and the closing arguments were made, the collective of judges marked the reading of the judgment for the 17th of this month, at 2:00 p.m., the two lawyers indicated to Lusa agency.

Rita Moleiro, who defends the woman, and Margarida Godinho Costa, a man's advocate, said that, in the closing arguments, the MP defended the conviction of the two defendants, asking for a prison sentence close to the 25-year limit.

In the statements to Lusa, the woman’s lawyer argued that “the defendant had no intervention” in the crimes and alluded to the “fact of having been present under threat from the defendant”.

“ To this extent, and with contradictions in the process, we require the acquittal of the defendant, invoking the principle of ‘in dubio pro reo’, Latin expression that means ‘in doubt, in favor of the defendant’, Rita Moleiro said.

Lawyer Margarida Godinho Costa pointed out that the version of the defendant does not match that of the woman and recalled that her constituent claims that, apart from having thrown the elderly into the well, did not assault him and that it was the defendant who did so.

“ The defendant has mitigating, such as regret, collaboration with the authorities and the fact that he lives in an area referred to by high drug use. He's deeply sorry. He was dragged into a situation that got out of control,” he added.

At the first trial session, held on Tuesday, the defendant accused the former partner of having beaten “two or three times” with an iron in the head of the elderly, before throwing him into a well.

The defendant argued that the ex-husband “punched a pistol” on the victim’s head, either in the old man’s house, in the village of Jungeiros, in the municipality of Aljustrel, Beja district, or by the well where he threw it, without his intervention.

The couple, both 40 years old and in protective custody, came to live in de facto union. You're each charged with a felony of murder, one for robbery, and one for aggravated kidnapping.

According to the MP, on January 16, this year, the two went to the house of an 80-year-old man, his neighbor, in the village of Jungeiros, having the man struck the elderly on the head with an object with blade.

The defendants, habitual drug users, appropriated after the money and keys of the victim's car and put the elderly in the trunk of the car, circulating around localities of the area for the purchase and use of ‘crack’, can be read in the accusation.

The next morning, they headed for a well near Ervidel, also in the municipality of Aljustrel, broke the lock that sealed the metallic lid, threw the victim into the interior, put the cover back and left the site.

The defendant is also being tried in this courtroom for attempted robbery that night.