The strike by bailiffs at the Braga Court today forced the postponement of the start of the trial of a 36-year-old man from Braga who, on August 20, 2023, tried to rob a couple who were inside a car parked in Gualtar .
As O MINHO reported, the Public Ministry’s indictment says that, on that day, at 6:10 pm, the defendant, João. FD – defended by lawyer João Ferreira Araújo – went to the Volvo car, parked with the couple there inside, Rua Nova de Novainho, taking advantage of the circumstances of the vehicle having its windows open, he leaned over the interior, reaching in with his body and hands and grabbing the wallet that the woman was carrying attached to one arm.
He pulled it hard, but the victim didn’t let go of his wallet, which led him to shout, grabbing her arm: “Give me 20 euros”. The wallet was from the Valentino brand, valued at 140 euros and contained documents, a cell phone, 60 euros and other objects.
He then removed the ignition key from the vehicle in order to steal it, but was unsuccessful as the two occupants, Maria and Fernando C., began to scream. Frightened, he ran away, but taking the key that he left behind. Soon afterwards, he was seen walking on Estrada Nova street (next to the entrance to the University of Minho) by two GNR guards; duly uniformed and on duty.
He ran away but was caught
Upon seeing them, he fled towards São Vítor, but was intercepted on Rua Nova de Santa Cruz.
After the arrest order was given, the defendant told them, in a serious and threatening tone: “Let me look at your faces, I can go inside, but when I come out I will kill your mothers, your sons of bitches! Let go of me.”
He was then taken to the GNR Territorial Post and there he told them again: “I’ve already decorated your faces, I’m going to catch you on the street”.
The Public Ministry concluded that, “he wanted to obtain for himself, the wallet and the objects it contained, as well as the car, valued at 33 thousand euros, using physical force”, and that, “he acted with the intention of causing fear and unrest on the two GNR soldiers, knowing well that they were carrying out their duties”.
At the time of his arrest, he was heard by an investigating judge at the Guimarães Court, leaving him free. The following day, he was taken to the Court of Instruction, on suspicion of the crime of drug trafficking, but he was also released.
He will now be tried, on April 30, for one crime of robbery, another of qualified robbery and two of aggravated threat.
