Home » News » Maximum prison sentence for nun murderer in São João da Madeira

Maximum prison sentence for nun murderer in São João da Madeira

In addition to the prison sentence, he will have to pay compensation of 120,000 euros to the nun’s heirs and 1300 euros to the victim of the abduction and attempted rape.

The Santa Maria da Feira Court today sentenced the man accused of raping and killing a nun in São João da Madeira, in the district of Aveiro, in September 2019, to 25 years in prison.

The 44-year-old man was sentenced to partial sentences of 23 years in prison for the crime of qualified homicide, eight years for rape and one year and eight months for desecration of a corpse.

The defendant, who is in preventive detention, was also sentenced in the same process to five years in prison, for abduction and rape in the attempted form, and to three years, for theft, related to a case that occurred in the same municipality, in August 2018, and who had a young woman as a victim.

In addition, he was given a single sentence of 25 years in prison.

In addition to the prison sentence, he will have to pay compensation of 120 thousand euros to the heirs of the nun and 1,300 euros to the victim of the abduction and attempted rape.

The mortal victim was known locally as “Tona”, but also as “radical nun”, because he usually travels by motorcycle.

The crimes against the nun of the Religious Congregation Servas de Maria – Ministers of the Sick, occurred on September 8, 2019, after the victim gave the defendant a ride.

During the reading of the judgment, the presiding judge said that the court proved that the defendant managed to convince the nun to go to her residence and, in that place, “repeatedly assaulted her”.

“Then he repeatedly raped her, at least three times, and later he ended up taking her life, suffocating her. Then, he still had sex with the corpse,” said the magistrate.

The judge also said that, “at an advanced stage” of the trial, which took place behind closed doors, the defendant admitted that he killed the victim because no one else was in his room.

However, he “put himself in a situation of amnesia”, referring not to remember how it happened, because he was under the influence of drugs and drink, and also affirmed that the sexual acts would have occurred by common agreement, a version that did not convince the collective of judges.

“His explanations did not succeed in convincing the court, considering the remaining evidence produced and their improbability,” said the judge, adding that the defendant did not express any regret.

As for the second case, the accused denied the practice of the facts, but this version was also contradicted by the witnesses who recognized him.

As a final consideration, the judge stressed that these behaviors victimized two people, one of whom “in an absolutely barbaric and disgusting way”.

The magistrate also recalled the criminal past of the accused started at the age of 19, having already suffered seven convictions for various crimes, including kidnapping and rape. A succession of criminal acts that, according to the magistrate, “speaks well of the high danger” of the accused

Upon leaving the courtroom, the defendant’s lawyer, Cristina Bento, announced that she will appeal the judgment.

The victims’ lawyer, Alberto Pita de Meireles, considered that the sentence is “absolutely fair within what is possible”.

“We are dealing with absolutely heinous crimes. We are talking about rape, the desecration of a corpse and homicide. There is no possible satisfaction, either on the side of the victims or on the side of anyone,” said the official, saying he had no expectation of his customers will receive the compensation that has been determined.

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