Court case over the death of Irish businessman starts

By PAULO SILVESTRE paulo.silvestre@theresidentgroup.com

Two Brazilian men appeared in court in Portimão on Tuesday charged with the manslaughter of Irish businessman Paul Houston, 51, who died after being attacked in Alvor in the early hours of September 6 last year.

Jones dos Santos, 27, and Diego Dias, 20, were arrested 10 days after the incident. Since then, Jones dos Santos has been held in custody as he had an airline ticket for Brazil and police feared he would flee the country.

Two Brazilian men apeared in court on tuesday charged with manslaughter of irish businessman Paul Houston. Photo: PAULO SILVESTRE.

Diego Dias told the court that he had been in a bar in Alvor with Jones dos Santos and other friends on the night of the incident.

“After a while we (he and Jones dos Santos) left the bar with Paul and walked towards the riverfront.”

He said he had no explanation for why he left the bar, admitting that he was very drunk, and said Jones dos Santos had told him about the fight the next day. “I do not remember anything beyond that,” he told the court. “I do not know how I got home that night. I almost don’t remember anything.”

Diego Dias also apologised to the victim’s family, who attended the hearing, claiming that he only wanted to defend himself and not to kill Paul.

Suspect Diego Dias leaving Portimão courthouse on Tuesday. Photo: PAULO SILVESTRE.

He said: “Our mistake was not having called anybody at the time to help Paul. But I did not know what to do. I was very nervous. I did not realise that he was dead.”

After hearing Diego Dias’ testimony, Judge Alda Casimiro said that there were many discrepancies in what he had said in court when compared with the first interrogation he underwent with police.

The judge said he noted that in a previous statement, Diego Dias had claimed that Paul Houston had grabbed his penis when he stopped to urinate, and a fight began after that.

This was confirmed by Jones dos Santos, who told the court: “Diego stopped on the street to urinate and Paul grabbed his penis. I moved away but when I looked back I saw that the two were fighting. Then Paul came towards me and attacked me. I defended myself and kicked him in the chin. Diego punched him in the face a couple of times leading to him (Paul Houston) falling on the ground.”

After that, Jones dos Santos said they left the site but, as they were “lost, went in the wrong direction. We came back, saw Paul sitting and continued on our way.”

Nicholas Edwards, an eyewitness to the incident, told the court: “I didn’t see the victim. I was a bit far but I clearly remember seeing two men, one standing and another on the edge of the river, shouting son of a b**** and making movements with his legs as if he was kicking and stepping on someone.”

He added: “The other individual also came up and did the same movement with the legs. After a while, they stopped and one of them ducked down and then they both walked away. After a while, they came back and looked to the ground at the place where the incident happened and continued walking, without stopping.”

The eyewitness also said that they were both involved in what happened, although one had a more active participation and identified the defendants attending the hearing as the men he saw that day.

Paul Houston’s family, including wife, son and daughter, attended the court hearing but refused to speak to the press.

The hearing was adjourned and the next court meeting is scheduled for May 20.
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