Four-and-a-half years in prison for man accused of trying to kill two people in a bar in Porto

A man accused of attempting to murder two people in a bar in Porto was sentenced this Monday to four and a half years in prison for the attempted murder of one of them and acquitted in the case of the second.

The panel of the São João Novo court also sentenced the defendant to pay compensation of 25 thousand euros plus legal costs, and, reading out the decision in the afternoon, the presiding judge explained the effective arrest, saying that “given what was at stake value of life, the punishment can be nothing other than effective imprisonment.”

In March 2023, the defendant, armed with a firearm, based on long-standing disagreements with the employees of the establishment, entered the bar and fired several shots, hitting the car he was in, as well as the door of the bar establishment.

In a conversation with reporters, leaving the courtroom, the defendant’s lawyer admitted that he would appeal this decision: “I have no other choice but to appeal this effective sentence. The judge understands that it must be effective and, given that we will appeal this,” explained Fernando Moura.

The defendant was sentenced to four years in prison for attempted murder aggravated by the use of a firearm and one year and six months for the offense of possession of a prohibited weapon. four years and six months.

According to the judge, the court found that the defendant “shot” one of the trial assistants, but considered that it was not proven that he tried to kill the second: “Prove that the wound was inflicted by the assistant’s neck as a result of the defendant’s shot or fragments of a fired bullet,” – he said.

At trial, the defendant apologized to those offended and explained that he never intended to harm or kill anyone, but simply wanted to frighten those who were in the bar after he was attacked outside the bar following an argument.

When asked by the judge what happened the night of the crime, the suspect explained that he had gone to take a friend to a bar where he was going to pick up his girlfriend, who had gotten into an argument with some patrons on the street.

To defend himself, the defendant admitted that he went to get a gun from his father-in-law’s car and fired once at the door and twice inside.

Despite admitting to the shooting, the defendant emphasized that everything happened very quickly, it was very dark inside the establishment, and he did not intend to attack anyone in particular.

The man will wait for the final and indisputable decision this Monday, which will be made in freedom.