The court of Viseu confirmed the testimony of taxi driver José Guerra, who assured that he had no intention to kill, and therefore sentenced him to 15 years in prison, which is less than the interval between 18 and 20 years that was requested by the court. Ministry of Public. The decision caused surprise and outrage among the families of the victims, who consider the sentence “too short” given the severity of the crimes committed. The crime took place on February 16 last year, the day Jose Guerra found out that a law enforcement officer was coming to see him. The taxi driver set fire to the sawmill in order to destroy the property, so as not to share the goods with his ex-wife. Then he hid in the basement and through the hatch opened fire on firefighters and the GNR. These are the most serious crimes attributed to a taxi driver: four qualified aggravated murders, in the form of an attempt, against three firefighters from Canas de Señorim and a PPR soldier who went to the scene. He was also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, as he prepared and threw Molotov cocktails and fired weapons for which he did not have a license. He is also responsible for the crime of fire, explosion and other particularly dangerous acts. Finally, he is charged with aggravated crimes against physical integrity in the form of attempt and aggravated coercive crimes, the latter against a law enforcement officer who was going to assess the property that day and who was also shot at.
“NEVER RECOVERED”
Luis Abrantes, the firefighter most seriously injured after José Guerra was shot with a shotgun, ensures he “never recovered from his serious injuries.” The operative says that he is sad because he was locked in the barracks. TERM WITHOUT LIMIT
Had the court not ruled, José Guerra should have been released this Friday as he reached his maximum pre-trial detention. In prison, the taxi driver guaranteed that if he was released, he would pay off his family.
“NEVER RECOVERED”
Luis Abrantes, the firefighter most seriously injured after José Guerra was shot with a shotgun, ensures he “never recovered from his serious injuries.” The operative says that he is sad because he was locked in the barracks. TERM WITHOUT LIMIT
Had the court not ruled, José Guerra should have been released this Friday as he reached his maximum pre-trial detention. In prison, the taxi driver guaranteed that if he was released, he would pay off his family.