Fernando Valente freed after over 18 months under house arrest
Yesterday’s emotional scenes at Aveiro courthouse after the man charged with the murder of missing mother Mónica Silva was cleared of all charges has seen public prosecutors confirm that they too will be appealing the verdict.
If the appeal court confirms yesterday’s decision, the case will be officially concluded. If it doesn’t, the way will be open for further appeals to the Supreme and even the Constitutional court.
But for the time being, Fernando Valente, the man originally suspected of having killed Ms Silva – who was seven months’ pregnant at the time – and disposed of her body in such a way that it has never been found, is a free man able to return to his life once again.
This was always a case fraught with uncertainties, by dint of the fact that there was so little in the way of ‘evidence’. Indeed, according to the jury trial that took place behind closed doors, there was no concrete evidence to prove the case beyond a ‘shadow of a doubt’. The lead judge admitted that there was not even proof that Mónica Silva is dead – just that she remains missing.
According to the court, even the gestation period of the baby Ms Silva was carrying did not ‘fit’ with the theory that Fernando Valente was the father. It actually pointed to another man entirely, who has a strong alibi for the time Mónica Silva went missing.
António Falé de Carvalho, the lawyer representing Ms Silva’s family has also said his clients will be appealing. “Justice is done in stages”, he told CM. “The next stage will be the appeal. I believe that the judges can appreciate indirect proof”.
“For António Falé de Carvalho there was enough evidence to condemn Valente”, adds CM, “but this did not happen”.
Source: Correio da Manhã
