Key facts
- Police officer Bruno Pinto was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of Odair Moniz.
- The court determined Moniz resisted arrest but was unarmed.
- Pinto received a 3 1/2-year suspended prison sentence.
- Pinto must pay €90,000 to Moniz's heirs.
- The incident led to days of unrest in Lisbon's multiethnic neighborhoods.
A Portuguese court has convicted police officer Bruno Pinto of second-degree murder for the fatal shooting of Odair Moniz, a 43-year-old chef from Cape Verde, during an arrest in a Lisbon suburb. Pinto was sentenced to a 3 1/2-year prison term, but the sentence was suspended. The court found that Moniz had resisted arrest but was unarmed, and that Pinto had acted in legitimate self-defense but used excessive means.
The incident, which occurred in October 2024, sparked several nights of unrest in multiethnic neighborhoods on the outskirts of Lisbon. Rights groups, including SOS Racismo and the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, have long expressed concerns about excessive police force in Portugal, particularly against individuals of African descent. The far-right party Chega, however, rallied in support of the police.
According to police testimony, Moniz attempted to flee in his car after spotting a police vehicle, leading to a chase that ended when he crashed and resisted arrest. Pinto's defense claimed Moniz possessed a knife, but CCTV and other evidence presented to the court indicated no blade was present during the struggle. Pinto's lawyer stated that his client, who was also ordered to pay €90,000 ($104,000) to Moniz's heirs, is considering an appeal. The ambassador of Cape Verde to Portugal had previously lamented Moniz's death, describing him as a law-abiding, peaceful working individual.