Judge took into account that death “was not directly caused by the knife attack”
A man accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend, who died around one week later due to an infection caused by the injuries, has been sentenced to eight years and six months in prison by Portimão Court.
The case dates back to June 15, 2023, when Tiago Souto attacked Joana Nascimento in her car after she left work, stabbing her twice in the neck.
The 26-year-old victim was treated at Portimão Hospital and discharged on the same day but was hospitalised a week later due to a serious infection that developed in the wounds.
Joana Nascimento was taken by helicopter to Lisbon’s Santa Maria Hospital, where she died on the night of June 23 of a post-traumatic abscess, which had been complicated by sepsis, according to the autopsy report.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office had called for a 14-year jail sentence for Tiago Souto, 22, although the judge announced an eight-year sentence at the verdict reading this Monday (May 6), reports Lusa news agency.
While the judge admitted that the sentence may not seem as harsh as expected, she explained that the final decision took into account that Joana Nascimento’s death was “not directly caused by the knife attack.”
“However, there was the intention to take her life,” the judge added.
The judge also advised Tiago Souto to use his time in jail to “think about the path he is treading and change his behaviour, because he is still very young,” and urged him to stop a series of “escalating” episodes of violence.
The court also ordered Tiago Souto to pay €5,000 in compensation to the victim’s family.
