Defence claims witness was “tortured during interrogation”
An 11th hour revelation has thrown something of a curved ball into the potential decision-making in the trial into the murder of a pregnant woman in Murtosa, whose body has so far not been found.
The detail centres on ‘accusations of torture against PJ inspectors during the interrogation’ of witness Octávio Oliveira.
According to the defence, inspectors (unidentified) beat Oliveira to force him to say that he had carried out a “deep clean” of the apartment in which the murder allegedly took place, not simply a normal clean.
Contradictions about the cleaning of the apartment could compromise the investigation, admits Lusa – at least that is what the defence of Fernando Valente – the man accused of murdering Mónica Silva – is arguing.
For now, it has been confirmed that the Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating this alleged torture.
“The presiding judge of Aveiro District Court confirmed that a certificate had been drawn up to investigate an alleged crime of torture committed against the man who was hired to clean the flat where the prosecution says the crime took place”, says the state news agency.
Judge Jorge Bispo explained that “the issuance of the certificate in question was requested by the defendant’s lawyer because, in his opinion, the testimony of the witness Octávio Oliveira reveals facts that could constitute the practice of, among others, the crime of torture, cruel, degrading or inhuman treatment, denial of justice and malfeasance, as well as the falsification of documents”.
The judge also said that this certificate had been sent to the Aveiro Department of Investigation and Criminal Action for investigation purposes, and that neither the request nor the order that was issued on it identified the person who had carried out these acts.
Fernando Valente’s defence lawyer Falé de Carvalho “harshly criticised the police investigation” in the closing arguments of the trial, which was held behind closed doors, recalls Lusa.
He referred to “manipulated and concealed evidence”, accusing PJ inspectors of assaulting Octávio Oliveira to force him to say that the cleaning he had done in the property was “as deep as they say it was”.
The jury trial, made up of three judges and eight jurors, is nonetheless scheduled announce a verdict next Tuesday.
Fernando Valente faces five charges
Fernando Valente is charged with the offences of qualified homicide, abortion, desecration of a corpse, unlawful access and acquisition of counterfeit currency to be put into circulation.
Under house arrest since just over a month after the disappearance of Mónica Silva in 2023, Valente is accused of killing her and her unborn child to ensure he was not saddled with all the responsibilities of paternity.
Prosecutors have accused him of murdering Ms Silva and the baby she was carrying on October 3, 2023, at night, in his apartment in Torreira, and disposing of the body shortly afterwards “taking it to an unknown place, hiding it and preventing it from being found until today”.
Fernando Valente has always denied the charges. ND
