Three individuals, aged between 19 and 26 and residing in Margem Sul do Tejo, were initially charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon. However, the charges were reduced to one count of aggravated robbery, committed jointly, while the charge of possessing a prohibited weapon remained.
One of the men also faced charges for three counts of driving without a legal license.
Paulo Bunda, aged 26 and with a criminal record, received the heaviest sentence among the three defendants, being sentenced to 11 years in prison for three crimes.
The panel of judges confirmed the facts related to the crime of aggravated robbery, committed jointly, and decided on an eight-year sentence for a crime that carries a penalty range of 3 to 15 years.
The defendant was also sentenced to three years for possessing a prohibited weapon and an additional three years for three counts of driving without a legal license (one year per crime), totaling 11 years in cumulative sentencing.
The other two defendants, brothers aged 19 and 26, were sentenced to five and a half years and seven years in prison for the crime of aggravated robbery.
In final arguments, the defense lawyer for the two brothers, who did not attend the verdict reading due to health reasons, requested a suspended sentence for the younger, who had no criminal record, and for the older, with a criminal record, a suspended prison sentence aimed at social reintegration.
In the trial’s final arguments, held on September 15, the prosecutor dropped the charge related to one of the robberies on August 28, 2024, citing “lack of evidence,” a decision confirmed by the panel of judges today.
However, it was stated that there was “no doubt” about the robbery committed on September 18 by the defendants, and the prosecutor requested effective prison sentences for three of the four men, which was confirmed today.
The prosecutor also called for a harsher punishment for one of the defendants, Paulo Bunda, as she believed he planned the robbery, an accusation rejected by the defense lawyer due to “lack of evidence.”
Today, when asked by Lusa if he would appeal the decision, lawyer Filipe Dionísio said he would decide after “reviewing the sentence’s reasoning, what was proven and what was not,” and would decide accordingly with the defendant whether to appeal.
“He was convicted of several crimes, but after reading the sentence, we will better define the situation. But I believe the court did its job and applied what was necessary. Now it’s up to the defense and the defendant to decide on the next steps,” he stated.
The fourth defendant, aged 59, linked to renting the vehicle used in the robberies, did not attend the trial sessions; however, he was acquitted by the prosecution of participation in the crime, a conclusion supported by the panel of judges today.
According to the prosecution, the defendants decided to rob jewelry stores, using intimidation with firearms and physical force.
The proven robbery took place on the morning of September 18, 2024, at a jewelry store in Fátima, where the storeowners and a third person were present.
One defendant pointed a weapon at the owner, another pushed a person who hit their head on a display case pillar, and the third broke a showcase and a piece of furniture with a hammer, stealing dozens of items valued at around 16,500 euros.
The men fled towards Lisbon, where they were intercepted and arrested on the Ponte 25 de Abril after a police chase.
