Greater Lisbon suffers 4th consecutive night of unrest following PSP shooting
Expresso reports that the 26-year-old PSP agent who shot Odair Moniz, killing him, in Cova da Moura, five days ago is an official suspect, indicted for “homicídio simples” (simple murder) – a crime punishable with a maximum jail term of 16 years.
Whether this fact brings a halt to the consecutive nights of violence on the streets of peripheral Lisbon municipalities remains to be seen.
Last night, the fourth since father-of-two Odair was killed, was much reduced from the previous three, no doubt because of the reinforced police presence.
Tomorrow (Saturday) will see a ‘protest’ organised by anti-racism groups in Lisbon.
But today, there is still ‘doubt’ swirling as to what exactly happened in those critical moments that ended with 43-year-old chef Odair Moniz lying inanimate on the road as residents of Cova da Moura woke up to this latest nightmare.
Expresso writes that “the policeman who let off the shots was heard on the same day by the PJ (judicial police) and constituted a suspect for simple homicide, a crime punishable with a jail term of between eight and 16 years. The investigation of the PJ and that of public prosecutors could alter the terms to, for example, negligent homicide, punishable with a maximum of five years” (behind bars). “Or they could decide this was a case of legitimate self defence.
“The suspect has handed in his handgun, but has not been suspended or taken off the streets. He is taking a holiday period. The colleague” (believed to be in his early 20s) “is working normally”, says the paper – adding that the revelation (contradicting the original PSP statement on the incident) that Moniz did not threaten police with a knife has been borne out by CCTV images, captured by various different cameras.
The case is currently in the hands of three different entities: PSP, IGAI (the general inspectorate of public administration) and the public prosecutor’s office. It will be the latter, says Expresso, that decides on the PSP agent’s ultimate charge.
For the time being, the PSP hierarchy is not “going to confront the agent with the contradiction” between what he allegedly wrote in his official report, and what he ultimately told the PJ – and the agent’s statements to the PJ cannot be used in court, explains the paper, as he made them without the presence of a lawyer.
Complicating the issue further is the fact that, up until now at least, the PJ has not been able to hear any witnesses to the shooting (which occurred at 5.40am). Expresso describes a form of ‘pact of silence’ in Cova da Moura where residents habitually do not want to talk to police, and “journalists are treated with some hostility”.
The situation has very possibly not been helped by the PSP stressing at a press conference on Wednesday that they, the GNR and SIS (the internal security service) are gathering information on social media “that could be used to make organisers of these concerted protests (that have taken place since Odair’s death) criminally responsible”.
Says Expresso: “According to police there are cases of “incitement to hatred” and even “for the death” of police. On Thursday, on open source, groups of young people were organising an invasion of central Lisbon and protest marches along the Avenida da Liberdade. Messages were talking about smashing the windows of shops on the avenue…”
An official source for the PSP has said: “We will be taking preventive measures necessary”, as has the government.
One protest that will almost certainly be taking place tomorrow is that of political organisation Vida Justa, which stresses its action will be peaceful.
The “No Justice, No Peace” protest will take place at 3pm in Marquês de Pombal, in the centre of the capital. It describes itself as being “against police violence in the neighbourhoods and for justice for Odair Moniz”.
The dead man’s family have reportedly called for “attention to be paid to actions that could injure workers and innocent people” – like what happened to the bus driver in Santo António de Cavaleiros on Wednesday night.
Vida Justa also warns about “false demonstrations called by far-right elements posing as people representing the neighbourhoods”.
natasha.donn@portugalresident.com
