The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) and the defense of a young man accused of planning a terrorist attack at the Faculty of Sciences in Lisbon have appealed against the effective sentence of two years and nine months in prison.
On December 19, the Central Criminal Court in Lisbon sentenced a 19-year-old defendant only for possession of a prohibited weapon, dropping the charge of two crimes of terrorism, as well as sentencing him to prison for non-participation in the crime. sane persons.
“The State Attorney’s Office, after reviewing the decision, has filed an appeal with the Lisbon Court of Appeal,” an official source at the Attorney General’s Office told Lusa on Monday.
Joao Carreira’s defense appeal has already been filed by Correio da Manha and confirmed by Jorge Pracana.
The lawyer informed Lusa that in the appeal filed, he disputes the measure of punishment and its non-delay, even if it is subject to a probationary regime.
Despite a guilty verdict of less than five years in prison and thus recognizing the application of a suspended sentence, the court realized that “neither society is ready to accept the defendant back” nor João Carreira “is not ready to return to life.” outside” prison, so the danger of the defendant prompted the team of judges not to postpone the sentence, making it come into force.
In the decision, the panel of judges, presided over by Nuno Costa, found that the requirements for the crimes of terrorism with which the defendant was charged by the Ministry of State (MP) had not been met, as well as the crime of preparing for terrorism, which was requested by the prosecutor during the closing debate.
A young man with autism was detained by the SP in February last year with knives, a crossbow, Molotov cocktails and other dangerous items.
According to the plan, analyzed by the joint venture, the attack was scheduled for February 11, 2022. Following his arrest, João Carreira was taken into custody and the measure of coercion was commuted to preventive hospitalization in the Caxias Prison Hospital.