A 55-year-old man stood trial on May 20 before a panel of judges at the Vila Real Court. He faced charges of attempted aggravated murder, preparation for arson, explosions, other particularly dangerous acts, and possession of prohibited weapons.
The defendant attempted to kill another officer inside the Chaves Traffic Station in August last year and intended to set the GNR station on fire and destroy it.
In today’s hearing, the presiding judge stated that the retired military officer was found guilty of the crimes he was charged with, except for the prohibited weapons charge, from which he was acquitted.
The court declared the defendant legally insane and dangerous, committing him to an appropriate psychiatric institution for a minimum period of three years and a maximum of 14 years, two months, and twenty days.
This measure is subject to reassessment and may not reach the maximum duration if his dangerousness is deemed to have ceased.
The retired military officer is also required to pay compensation of four thousand euros to the officer he attempted to harm.
During the reading of the verdict, the judge noted that the defendant’s account in court was inconsistent, as he claimed self-defense against an alleged attack rather than an attempt to kill anyone.
The incident dates back to August 3, 2024, when the retired officer entered the Chaves Traffic Station at 7:00 PM, where only one officer was present, and fired several shots until he was subdued by the same GNR member.
The aforementioned officer, who served as an assistant in the case, described in court how he evaded the shots by lying on the ground and escaping through a window. He recounted returning to the building through the entrance out of duty to ensure its security.
Inside, he managed to subdue the defendant, but not before being struck on the head with the butt of a weapon. It wasn’t until another GNR officer arrived that the attacker was handcuffed.
The officer required hospital treatment and took a medical leave but has since returned to duty at the station.
The prosecution noted that the defendant devised his plan by filling several plastic and glass bottles with a yellow, gasoline-based flammable mixture and inserted wicks into the necks, creating improvised incendiary devices commonly known as ‘Molotov cocktails.’
The prosecution linked the events to the defendant’s grievances against the GNR institution and his colleagues, resulting in multiple reports filed by the retired officer.
