LISBON, June 15 - A Portuguese court has found police officer Bruno Pinto guilty of second-degree murder for fatally shooting 43-year-old Cape Verdean chef Odair Moniz during an arrest in a Lisbon suburb, but allowed Pinto to avoid immediate imprisonment by suspending a 3-1/2 year prison sentence.
The court said Moniz resisted arrest and that Pinto acted in legitimate self-defence, but it also determined that the officer used excessive means when he shot the unarmed man. The judge ordered Pinto to pay 90,000 to Moniz's heirs. Pinto's lawyer said on Monday the officer was considering an appeal.
The incident, which occurred during an attempted arrest in a suburban area of Lisbon, led to major public reaction in October 2024. Moniz's killing sparked several nights of unrest in multiethnic neighbourhoods on the outskirts of the Portuguese capital. Rights organisations organised peaceful protests denouncing police violence, while the far-right party Chega held rallies in support of police.
Testimony presented by police said Moniz attempted to flee in his car after sighting a police vehicle, triggering a chase that ended when his car crashed and he allegedly resisted arrest. Pinto's defence argued that Moniz had a knife or other blade on him, but the court reviewed closed-circuit television footage and other evidence from the scene and concluded no blade was visible during the struggle and that no blade was recovered at the scene.
Human rights groups including SOS Racismo and the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination have, the court record notes, long voiced concerns about excessive force by police in Portugal, particularly against people of African descent. At the time of Moniz's death, Cape Verde's ambassador to Portugal described him as a law-abiding, peaceful working person.
The exchange rate noted in court materials was $1 = 0.8619 euros.
Case status and next steps:
- The court convicted Pinto of second-degree murder and imposed a 3-1/2 year prison term, suspended by the court.
- Pinto was ordered to pay 90,000 to the victim's heirs and is reportedly considering an appeal.
- The ruling acknowledged both resistance by Moniz during the arrest and the absence of any blade found or visible on CCTV footage.
The court's decision closes a criminal trial with both a finding of criminal culpability and an acknowledgment that the shooting occurred in a context the judge described as self-defence that crossed into excessive force. The ruling has already been a focal point for debate over policing, public order and minority rights in Portugal.