Another horrific case of family violence has left one woman dead and her six-year-old son fighting for his life at Porto’s São João Hospital. They are believed to have been shot by 54-year-old António Reis, the woman’s partner and father of the child. He was arrested hours after the crime by PSP police and is now being held in custody.
The shooting happened at around 9pm on Thursday night (July 23), when Marinha Santos, 42, and her son were getting out of her car in the neighbourhood of Saibreiras in Ermesinde, a town near Porto.
The woman was shot in the neck and her son in the head. They were rushed to the hospital, where Santos died half-an-hour later. Her son is reported to be “fighting for his life”.
Neighbours have said that António Reis and Marinha Santos had been in a relationship for “several years” but did not live together.
It was when Reis started demanding to live with her and their son that the death threats started.
“If you don’t want to live with me, I’ll kill you,” was one of the threats neighbours say they heard, according to Jornal de Notícias.
JN reports the woman had already warned Ermeside PSP police about the threats.
Their child’s custody is also reported to have been an issue, even though Reis was apparently allowed to see his son whenever he wanted. Locals say the man was seen often with his son in a local café.
Article courtesy of the Portugal Resident http://portugalresident.com/
Comments
Something Daphne left off her short summary which Brits in particular will be interested in is the 'actual marriage status' of Brits in mixed race marriages with Portuguese - and what link if any to Portuguese property.
With friends once alerted asking around around the country we have found several couples where the Brits had long appeared to be in a fully legal marriage with the Portuguese.
But questions like "Who officiated at the wedding?" get a blank. Then it comes out that this is not a standard bens communal (i.e. shared property) marriage as most of us have in the UK.
It is quite likely not even a civil partnership ! Just co-habiting and children born outside wedlock. With property kept clearly separate!
So, on reflection - physically far safer for a Portuguese to be marrying outside their race!
The numbers of married men having children with mistresses. Or with other men's wives.
Which leads on to role today in Portugal of the Godfathers and Droit du seigneur. The 1st born being fathered by the 'lord of the manor' who then becomes the patron to help the rest of the family forward in life. Not quite the notion of Godfather the UK has nowadays !
But to stir the mix also remember the high numbers of close relations having children - like Punjabi's - to keep the land in the family over the generations. But carrying all the genetic risks of inbreeding.