The sentencing reading for two former Marines accused of killing police officer Fabio Guerra was postponed this Thursday after the court made changes to the legal qualifications.
In the final charges filed with the Lisbon Central Criminal Court, the Ministry of Public Opinion (MP) asked for the conviction of former marines Claudio Coimbra and Vadim Grinko for the qualified murder of PSP agent Fabio Guerra, stressing that the former should be punished with at least 20 years in prison and emphasizing that “the facts are very serious”.
PSP agent Fabio Guerra, 26, died on March 21, 2022 at the San José hospital in Lisbon due to “serious head injuries” sustained from attacks that targeted him outside the Mome nightclub in Alcantara when he stepped out out of service.
in a minute
Updated May 10, 2023 | 13:29
“Very serious fines await us”: Vadim’s lawyer commented on changes in legal qualifications
Delayed sentence reading
Court postpone the reading of the verdict on May 29 at 14:30.
On the day appointed for the pronouncement of the verdict, preventive detention reaches its limit. The defense of the defendant Vadim asks them to be released.
The judge refuses to mention that crimes with a sentence of more than eight years have a longer sentence.
The reaction of defender Claudio Coimbra
Claudio Coimbra’s defense says “the court has decided to reopen the hearing” and mentions that the court cannot do so and declares itself invalid.
Judges change qualifications
The court assumes that Rafael López, a PSP agent, turned back and was attacked with a foot, not a fist.
The facts guarantee that Fabio Guerra was the victim of a skilled murder, the judge says. In the case of Joao Gonçalves, a PSP agent, this qualifies as attempted murder.
What only affects Claudio Coimbra – the attacks on Claudio Pereira – are qualified assassination in the form of attempted murder, violation of physical integrity and violation of qualified physical integrity.
The Court considers that the facts remain unchanged and that this is a change in legal qualifications. Defendants can now ask for a new term, and therefore the pronouncement of the verdict can be delayed.
Fabio Guerra’s parents and colleagues are present
Family members enter the room, as do the victim’s friends. Fabio Guerra’s parents are already sitting next to their daughter. They are holding hands.
Lawyers and defendants exchange views.