The trial of the 46-year-old man who is accused of having started the fire that consumed several hectares of pasture and houses in Calheta and Porto Moniz, in October last year, began on Thursday at the Central Criminal Court of Funchal.
Even though the defendant was silent, the court heard witnesses, including the suspect’s mother and several owners of homes affected by the fire.
The court also listened to evidence from two Madeira Electricity Company engineers and the coordinator of the municipal civil protection service of the Chamber of Calheta.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
