Knight Joao Moura sentenced to 4 years and 8 months probation for cruelty to animals

This Wednesday, the Portalegre court sentenced the knight João Moura to four years and eight months of imprisonment, suspended. The prosecutor’s office (MP) accused the bullfighter of 18 crimes related to cruelty to domestic animals.

The rider will also have to pay €1,000 to three animal welfare associations and will be banned from animal fairs, greyhound racing and similar events for three years.

You are also prohibited from having pets for five years.

At the previous court hearing, on the 17th, marked by closing arguments, the prosecutor’s office (MP) asked to convict the defendant, leaving the criminal basis for application to the discretion of the court, and the defense asked to acquit him. .

Judge Maria Rebelo found that Joao Moura caused the animals “constant” suffering and also noted that 18 dogs lived in “torture.”

Reading out the verdict, the judge also considered that bullfighting was a “ring of cruelty” and that the defendant, given the economic difficulties he had at the time of the events, could have donated dogs to associations or municipal kennels.

Lawyer Luis Semedo told reporters that he would “calmly analyze the verdict” and consider whether to appeal.

“The only thing I think is that there are three decisions of the Constitutional Court and three rulings that clearly state that this norm is unconstitutional and, therefore, it needs to be assessed,” he said.

The lawyer referred to decisions of the Constitutional Court, which have already overturned first-instance convictions for crimes related to cruelty to domestic animals.

Lawyer António García Pereira, a representative of the SOS Animal association who became an assistant in the trial, told reporters that assistants were “satisfied” with the verdict, but argued that the prison sentence should have been effective because of its “severity, cruelty.” cruelty and inhumanity” of the facts.

The bullfighter was arrested by the PNP on February 19, 2020 for animal cruelty after executing a search warrant on his property and 18 dogs were confiscated. He was named as a defendant and was required to obtain an identity card and a residence permit.

According to the deputy’s indictment, some of the dogs were “noticeably thin” or “emaciated,” while others had injuries or abrasions, as well as infections caused by parasites or even disease.

The nearly eight-year-old dog, which “suffered from acute liver and kidney failure,” in addition to a “state of cachexia” and “deep cuts in the metacarpal region without signs of healing,” eventually died the same day. operations.