The sentence of a young woman who killed a man in a bar in Paredes in 2022 has been commuted

The Court of Appeal of Porto (TRP) reduced the sentence of a young man who shot a 26-year-old man in prison in 2022 from 25 to 21 and a half years in prison in a bar in Paredes.

The decision, rendered on September 27, which Lusa read this Thursday, partially upheld the appeal filed by the defendant.

Last April, the defendant was sentenced by the Penafiel Court to 25 years’ imprisonment by law for crimes of aggravated murder, aggravated attempted murder, possession of a prohibited weapon and skilled robbery in an attempted form.

In addition to the prison sentence, the defendant was ordered to pay the victim’s partner and son compensation in the amount of 430 thousand euros.

Dissatisfied with the decision, the defendant appealed to the TRP, which admitted that it had “strong doubts” about the uniform punishment established for the totality of crimes and the fact that it was exactly at the maximum limit of the relevant legal totality of crimes. fines at competitions.

Given the fact that the defendant was only 17 years old at the time of the acts and that he had no identified criminal propensity, the judges understood that the sentence was “closer to the minimum limit than the maximum limit of punishment.” the corresponding sentence “was justified. frame.”

“Therefore, it seems more appropriate, taking into account the circumstances of the case, to impose a one-time sentence on the defendant in the form of 21 years and six months of imprisonment, thereby partially satisfying the appeal filed by him,” the decision says.

At the trial, the defendant claimed that he did not remember the facts because he was intoxicated and on the night of the murder he inhaled nitrous oxide cylinders.

The incident occurred in the early morning of May 29, 2022, in the bathroom of a bar in Paredes, Porto district.

The facts adduced as proven are that without any discussion or conflict, the accused held a firearm, pointed it at the head of the victim, who was facing away from him, and fired it from a short distance, striking him in the head. , head.

He then fired a second shot at the victim’s friend, hitting him in the chest.

Despite being pursued by the establishment’s security guard, alerted by the sound of gunshots, the accused managed to escape from the scene on foot, and also attempted to steal a car by “hijacking” and was arrested by the judicial police two days after the incident, the crime.

Two victims were taken alive and in very serious condition to the hospital, one of whom died the next day. The second victim’s life was in danger, but thanks to prompt medical care, he recovered from his injuries sustained in the shooting.

It was also proven that the victims did not approach the defendant or provoke any conflict that would lead him to kill or attempt to kill them, and the fatal victim was shot from behind without having time to show any kind of reaction and defense or defense against the actions accused.