The accused admits to killing his brother with a shotgun in Vila Poca de Aguiar

The 48-year-old accused confessed this Monday to killing his brother with a shotgun a year ago during the start of his trial in Vila Real by a jury at the request of the suspect’s defense.

At the first court hearing, the defendant admitted that he killed his brother – a crime that occurred exactly a year ago, on February 26, and expressed regret about the crime committed.

The case took place in Veiga, in Eiriz, Vreia de Bornes, parish of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, Vila Real district, the suspect was arrested by the Judicial Police (PJ), is in preventive detention and is being tried for the crime committed. skilled homicide and possession of a prohibited weapon.

Disagreements over land and livestock between the two family members were long-standing, and they did not speak to each other for five years.

According to the defendant, that day, having seen his brother in a swamp with cows, he stopped the car, and his brother approached him and grabbed him by the neck through the car window, from where, according to him, he did not leave.

He said he then went into the house to get a gun and returned.

At that moment, he got out of the car, stated that he had a gun visible, but not pointed, and that it was the victim who came out to meet him, moving away about 20 meters, to take the shotgun from him and that it was at that moment that he fired, hitting in his stomach.

During the meeting, the chairman of the panel of judges several times insisted on the question of the purpose of the defendant who came home for a pistol, but only to the lawyer did the defendant suggest that it was with the intention of murder.

However, he explained that he was intoxicated that day. A test taken around midnight, seven hours after the crime, showed an alcohol level of 0.77 grams per liter of blood.

The first witness to be heard was the victim’s daughter, to whom the accused apologized in the middle of the courtroom.

At the beginning of the hearing, the defendant’s lawyer explained that the jury “will be able to share valuable and real-life experiences that will help the judges clarify what happened,” noting that some of those selected come from Peso da Regua, Mondim de Basto and Chavez. .

The lawyer also told jurors that participating in this trial is a “unique opportunity and privilege” but it is “also a responsibility.”

The defense also argued that the prosecutor’s case (MP) was minimalist, that there were already “serious prior losses”, that the defendant acted with a temper and because he was psychologically altered and under the influence of large quantities of alcohol.

He also said the suspect was a good person and well integrated into the community and the victim’s behavior “was provocative and contributed to his death.”

The jury consists of three career judges and a panel of jurors selected by lot from the electoral rolls in the territory of the competent court, and must be under 65 years of age, have completed compulsory education, and be free from disease or condition. who make it impossible to perform official duties and who are not detained, imprisoned or sentenced to imprisonment for more than five years.

It can be requested by MPs, deputies or defendants, handles cases where the maximum penalty for crimes exceeds eight years’ imprisonment, and leaves out high-level and white-collar crime, with a focus on “blood crimes.”

Not all cases can be tried by a jury as certain legal requirements must be met in order for them to be viable.

Jury decisions in the Portuguese court system are made jointly by three judges and jurors.