Portugal’s Correio da Manhã newspaper has reported that police are preparing to investigate the sole survivor of the Meco beach tragedy for murder.
João Miguel Gouveia has been silent since six of his friends were swept to their deaths by a freak wave, late on the night of December 15.
At first, it was thought the deaths were just tragic accidents, but more and more details have emerged pointing to the fact that it could all have been an ‘academic ritual’ (‘praxe’) gone horribly wrong.
Saturday’s “news” in national papers suggested the students had their feet and legs bound with duct tape when the wave hit.
Only João Gouveia (known as “Dux” for his role in student rituals) can settle the doubts, and this is possibly why police are said to be finalising details to make him a witness in an investigation for murder.
Correio da Manhã suggests that the case will be one of murder by negligence.
The paper has been carrying the ongoing “story” of Meco for weeks, focusing mainly on parents’ doubts and their heartfelt appeals to Gouveia to settle unanswered questions.
The parents have now hired a lawyer who will be representing them any upcoming legal case.
Vítor Parente Ribeiro is said to be taking all the parents’ questions and compiling them to present to “Dux” when he is officially brought into the investigation.
Being made a witness means that João Gouveia will be protected by law. He will have a lawyer representing him, and the status in no way implies that he will eventually be charged with murder.
Police are planning a reconstruction of the fateful night before Christmas, to establish the movements of all the young people who lost their lives on Meco beach.
Parents’ concerns, and suspicions that this was a story that hadn’t properly been told, began weeks ago as information trickled in.
There was the situation of their children’s mobile phones – all found dry and clearly not in their possession when they were swept to their deaths. Why, parents wonder…
There was the odd message from Joana Barroso to a friend, saying that she hoped she would “survive” the weekend. What was she expecting, parents ask?
There was the fact that the rented house where all the students were staying had been cleaned up before their deaths. Why, again.
And then there was the fact that all the students spoke with their parents before 9pm on the night that they died, but none were contactable afterwards.
Lawyer Parente Ribeiro also points to the fact that there may well have been another witness to the tragedy on the beach.
“The information that we have is that there were at least 12 people on the beach, and, because of this, there should not have been only one survivor”, he told Correio da Manhã.
He stresses that the families do not want to condemn Gouveia, but simply to clear-up all the lingering doubts on the deaths of their children.
Apparently, in a letter back to them, Gouveia’s parents have said that their son will speak, says the newspaper. The question remains – when?
Meantime, the whole issue of violent ‘praxes’ (student rituals) has inflamed the nation, with academic associations from all over Portugal meeting education minister Nuno Crato to debate the controversy and try and forge ahead with protective legislation.
There is the opinion, on one side, that students are over the age of consent, and can therefore look after themselves – and the flip side of the argument that considers no one should be bullied into taking risks.
Staying firmly on the fence for the time being, Crato is due now to talk with university rectors.
“I am not assuming anything over what happened at Meco,” he told Correio da Manhã – agreeing nonetheless that from the information and photos received, it is the government’s “responsibility to take action”.
Meco survivor faces “murder investigation” as violent student rituals are condemned
