Initially absolved, Mariana Fonseca went on to sue former employers for wrongful dismissal
The surreal workings of Portuguese Justice – which saw a nurse who took part in a brutal murder and subsequent dismemberment absolved of all blame – have finally reached the point where the young woman is, finally, going to jail for a very long time (23 years).
Mariana Fonseca was ‘freed’ following a judgement that shook the Algarve almost as much as the crime that preceded it.
She went on to claim back her former job as a nurse at Lagos hospital – and when bosses balked at the prospect, sued them for wrongful dismissal, being awarded €30,000.
Shortly afterwards, an appeal lodged by public prosecutors saw judges conclude that Fonseca’s rightful place was indeed behind bars. This time, they decided a jail term of 25 years.
Again, Fonseca’s defence appealed – and now the Supreme Court has ruled that appeal judges were right: Mariana Fonseca should be behind bars, but for 23 years, not 25.
According to Correio da Manhã, Fonseca “will now be returning to jail”. The young woman spent months on remand with her former lover, Maria Malveiro, after police ‘cracked’ the case, thanks to CCTV images in which the girls were seen using their victim’s bank card.
There is no mention in reports today as to whether Mariana Fonseca has remained in this country to hear this latest court decision.
