Ten defendants accused of attempted aggravated bodily harm, aggravated insult, aggravated threat, and completed qualified damage were present at the Central Criminal Court of Lisbon, with only four opting to testify at this initial phase of the trial.
Defendants Luís Filipe and Jorge Torres discussed the incident involving the former President of the Assembly of the Republic, on September 11, 2021, near the Assembly. Luís Filipe denied insulting Ferro Rodrigues, stating he only shouted “respect” and aimed to protect Ferro Rodrigues when he left the restaurant with his wife.
Jorge Torres admitted to calling Ferro Rodrigues “pedophile” and “genocidal,” but does not recall saying “murderer” and “scoundrel.” In court, he remarked, “In the heat of the moment, we tend to use expressions. Vaccinating children is genocidal,” expressing his sentiments that morning.
The last two defendants, Maria Inês Ribeiro and Pedro Ribeiro, spoke about the incident with Henrique Gouveia e Melo, who was then the coordinator of the COVID-19 vaccination task force in 2021. Maria Inês Ribeiro accepted some charges and denied others.
She stated, “I called him murderer because one who kills is a murderer. I don’t usually use such words; it was a figure of speech regarding what I thought and felt. I am innocent of the charge of assault and attempted assault,” adding she was unaware that Gouveia e Melo would be present on the day of the protest at the Odivelas vaccination center.
Pedro Ribeiro’s testimony was interrupted for lunch. He told the judge panel, led by Judge Sandra Carneiro, that he was at the Odivelas vaccination center but only shouted “Captain Iglo, buy me a shot” at Gouveia e Melo, referring to a party being promoted as part of the vaccination campaign.
The case now reaches trial after the Central Instruction Court of Lisbon determined in December 2024 that there was sufficient evidence to try ten of the twelve defendants indicted by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for attempted aggravated bodily harm, aggravated insult, aggravated threat, and completed qualified damage.
The charges relate to events during the pandemic: one in August 2021, when denialist protesters shouted “murderer” and “genocidal” at Gouveia e Melo near the Odivelas vaccination center, and another a month later, near the parliament, where Ferro Rodrigues was called “pedophile” and “nauseating” as he walked to a restaurant with his wife.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office charged twelve defendants; however, some requested additional inquiry, and Judge Sofia Marinho Pires chose not to indict two defendants accused of an attempted qualified bodily harm offense against then-Admiral Gouveia e Melo.
