Cláudio Gouveia has been found guilty of ordering the acid attack on his former girlfriend, and is to spend 12 years in jail.
Ellie Chessel, a TUI travel rep aged 29, suffered burns over 60% of her body after she was attacked in the street last May by Edmundo Fonseca, whose is being held in Silves jail and whose prosecution now will be scheduled.
Fonseca will have his own trial as he was detained months after Gouveia and the court failed to notify him in time to be tried in the same case.
Despite the panel of judges agreeing that Gouveia was callous and had continued to deny any involvement in the case, they could have handed out a sentence of 25-years but agreed on less than half. The Public Prosecutor wanted the full stretch for this 'macabre and repulsive crime' and has time to appeal for a higher sentence to be imposed
Gouveia was found guilty of attempted manslaughter and of domestic violence and was sentenced to ten years and six months for attempted murder and three years for domestic violence, but was told his total sentence would be 12 years.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, Cláudio Gouveia, 34, designed a "cruel and macabre plan" against his former-girlfriend.
The couple had lived in Madeira but separated. Ellie moved to the Algarve but was tracked down by Gouveia who hired Fonseca to set up a meeting with the victim using a false profile on Tinder.
The accused had sent several messages to the victim and her mother in the Isle of Wight, one of which stated that he was going to ‘burn her face’.
It also was proved that on the day of the attack, Cláudio Gouveia had watched the attack in which his ex-girlfriend was doused in two litres of acid by Fonseca.
The cowardly attack occurred on May 6, 2017, in Alvor, Portimão.
Gouveia also was ordered to pay damages of €5,000 to the victim and is forbidden to approach Ms Chessell for a period of five years after his sentence ends.
Ellie Chessell was not in court to hear the sentence and later sent this statement to media through the British Embassy in Lisbon:
"The last twelve months of my life have been a living nightmare for my family and I after my former partner Claudio Gouveia ordered a cowardly acid attack against me.
"The physical and mental scars of what happened to me in May 2017 will never ever heal – but today’s lengthy prison sentence for Gouveia will help me move forward with my life knowing that justice has finally been served.
"Acid attacks are truly the most evil of crimes and my heart goes out to all fellow victims who have shown such bravery and courage in bringing their perpetrators to justice.
"Firstly I would like to thank lead judge Cristina Mira for her handling of the case and finding Gouveia guilty of attempted murder and domestic violence.
"I hope his lengthy prison sentence will give him time to reflect on the severity of his crimes and help deter other individuals from carrying out such horrific acts.
"All the fabulous staff at Hospital Santa Maria in Lisbon whose expert medical care and kindness has slowly helped me rebuild my life. Also Odstock Hospital in Wiltshire for their brilliant aftercare in the UK.
"Sonia Correia, the Portuguese police inspector whose dedication and hard work along with her team helped bring Gouveia to justice in what has been a long and complex investigation.
"TUI for their continuous support throughout all of this for myself and my family and the British Consulate in Portimao in particular Ana Sofia Bono.
"And last but certainly not least my family who have been at my side constantly supporting me through some very dark times.
"I love you all very much. Thank you."
Ellie Chessell
Comments
But keep going with your Portugal/Portuguese bashing, ignorance is bliss.
Berlinah Wallace will serve 12 years in jail for an attack that resulted in Mark van Dongen to be paralysed from the neck down, lost most of his sight and his lower left leg had to be amputated. Mark van Dongen applied for euthanasia in Belgium after a year in hospital.
As you can see Gordon an attack that caused worst injuries that resulted in the victim to ask to die was given a similar sentence in the UK. So do you think if the victim was British and not Dutch the sentence would have been higher?
By the way the UK has the highest rates of acid attacks in the world. Just saying.
But I agree with you the perpetrators of these cowardly attacks should be locked away for life and not come out regardless of their nationality.
Pink Mapping clearly in action? only in your head.
Gouveia is callous in his attack, but also cowardly because he bribed someone else to carry it out, thus involving a third party in his crime. Particularly revolting. This fact alone should have increased his potential sentence.
But if this British woman had been mental enough to throw the acid over him ?