A young man accused of trying to murder his stepfather by stabbing him to death in April last year, told the court that whomever was holding the knife was the victim, and that the incident only occurred during a fight he and his stepfather were having.
Only referred to as M. Santos, aged 19, the young man is under house arrest, and has also been charged with aggravated theft, vehicle theft and driving without a license.
According to the indictment, the boys stepfather suffered eight stab wounds (in the ear, abdomen and arms), and was then driven by the accused to hospital. Having left his stepfather at A & E, he went to the Câmara de Lobos Health Centre to have a wound on his right hand treated and stitched.
His sister, who is currently institutionalised, since being taken away from her father, was in court yesterday, stating that she did not want to speak in front of her brother and asked not to testify. The inspector of the Judiciary Police, responsible for the investigation, confirmed that M. Santos had wielded the knife.
The trial continues on the 10th of May at 9:15 am.
Samantha Gannon
info at madeira-weekly.com
