LAWYERS FOR Leonor and João Cipriano have now lodged an appeal with the Constitutional Court in a bid to overturn the sentencing of the siblings for the murder of eight-year-old Joana in Figueira, Portimão, in 2004.
Last week, the Supreme Court reduced the sentences of the girl’s mother and uncle to 16 years and eight months. It concluded the murder was not premeditated, although there was, in its opinion, sufficient evidence to confirm her death took place as a result of the pair’s actions. A complication in the case was that the little girl’s body was never found.
The original sentencing had condemned Leonor Cipriano to 20 years and four months in prison and her brother, João, to 19 years and two months. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling, lawyers for the siblings had 15 days to lodge an appeal with the Constitutional Court. If this new appeal is accepted, the decision of the Supreme Court will either be annulled or maintained. The entire process however, is likely to be delayed due to judicial holidays.
