Pedro Barosa: “A prison sentence cannot be imposed”
Pedro Barosa, Head of Abreu Advogados’ Criminal Law practice, explained to SIC Notícias that the 15-year-old suspected of killing his mother in Oeiras cannot be given a prison sentence, but only an institutional or non-institutional measure: “Ranging from the least severe – a simple reprimand – to the most severe, such as placement in an educational centre.”
The lawyer further explained that the court’s decision will depend on one of two scenarios: either that the young person coldly killed his own mother, or that he killed her in order to protect his four-year-old sister, who was allegedly being mistreated.
“If that is the case, it means that although criminal law classifies this conduct as aggravated homicide, the young person may have acted in self-defence. If so, he may be excused from criminal liability for the offence,” says Pedro Barosa.
Watch the full commentary.
