Former lover of pregnant Mónica Silva walks free to “disbelief” of missing woman’s family
A court in Aveiro today freed Fernando Valente, the man held under house arrest since 2023 on suspicion of having murdered his former lover, seven-months’ pregnant mother-of-two Mónica Silva.
Silva’s family reacted in utter disbelief and outrage. Reports suggest they will be lodging an appeal – but the instant reactions were a great deal more explicit.
This was always going to be a trial that could go either way, for the simple reason there is no body, no concrete evidence and no confession.
The court “only proved that the defendant became sexually involved with the victim at least once and that Valente bought a pre-paid card that he put in an old mobile phone to avoid being traced – using it to arrange a meeting with the victim on October 3, 2023” – the day Mónica Silva failed to return home to her children in Murtosa, explains Lusa.
“It was also proven that on that day Mónica’s mobile phone activated an antenna covering the defendant’s apartment in Torreira, where the prosecution says the crime took place, and it was also proven that in the following days the defendant and his father carried out a thorough cleaning of the apartment”.
Fernando Valente went on trial for qualified homicide, abortion, desecration of a corpse, illegitimate access and acquiring counterfeit currency to be put into circulation.
The trial began on May 19, and was heard by three judges and eight jurors. The public was excluded from the proceedings, on the basis that it was necessary to protect Mónica Silva’s personal dignity, and that of her children.
This was always seen as a ruse to protect third parties who may also have had sexual relations with Ms Silva, who was an escort.
It is ‘early days’ today. There are bound to be follow-up statements made by representatives of Mónica Silva’s family. But, for now, the reality is that a young mother went out for a cup of coffee, carrying images of her latest ultrasound scan, and simply vanished. ND
