During the 2013 key tourist season of July and August, Hugo Gonçalves decided to occupy himself with robbing tourists at gun point.
The victims he chose were predominantly women and he attacked them in the early hours or near to dawn as they returned from 'a good night out.'
The terrified victims were relieved of money and mobile phones. This is the case for the prosecution.
Charged with 27 counts of aggravated robbery, the 'aggraveated' bit beacuse he used a starting pistol whioh looked like a real firearm, Gonçalves appeared in court in Portimão and denied all counts.
The prosecution said that Hugo Gonçalves’s and three companions were in possession of the victims' stolen cellphones and that Gonçalves is the robber who acted alone, often close to tourist complexes in Albufeira such as Albufeira Jardim, where many of the victims were staying.
In court, Hugo Gonçalves denied the crimes had anything to do with him, claiming he purchased the mobile phones that the police found in his house, from "a Brazilian."
Gonçalves was arrested in September that year and has been in custody ever since.
His version of events and his denial of any involvement in the robberies contradicts his initial statement made after his arrest and interrogation.
Comments
Has Gonçalves been in custody since September 2013? If so, the wheels of justice move too slowly. Or was he arrested in September, 2014 after committing these crimes in summer 2013?
Or more likely, did he commit his offences in summer this year, followed by arrest in September this year?[/
These events happened in 2013.
..........
The robber probably remains in jail!
Has Gonçalves been in custody since September 2013? If so, the wheels of justice move too slowly. Or was he arrested in September, 2014 after committing these crimes in summer 2013?
Or more likely, did he commit his offences in summer this year, followed by arrest in September this year?
Those of us from more developed countries must be focussing on this as it is common in Portugal. It is quite clear that police interrogation in Portugal is not nearly to a UN Human Rights standard.
In the court room much of this blokes defence will hinge on this original 'interrogation' - ask your lawyer - and could well get the case thrown out as 'unproven'.
And another unsolved Albufeira case - the missing Madeleine McCann also took place in Albufeira.
Portugals finest, the PJ - was quite happy for Inspector Amaral to close an earlier missing child case to the McCanns and blame the mother - having had his team of 'detectives' beat her into admitting she had done it !
This poor mother having, as many Portuguese would tell you - foolishly gone to the Police to ask their help in finding her child!
The true events about 'mother beating' only emerging after journalists started digging into Amaral's police record. So triggering his own investigation.
Scary ... yet its happening somewhere at a police station in Portugal - NOW!