The Luxembourg Public Prosecutor has called for a life sentence for three Portuguese nationals accused of killing a man during a vacation in Figueira da Foz in 2021.
The case dates back to August 2021, when the body of Marco, a Portuguese emigrant living in Luxembourg, was found near the Mondego River in Figueira da Foz. Less than a year later, in March 2022, four individuals were arrested: Rosa (Marco’s girlfriend), Maria Clara (Rosa’s mother), João (Maria Clara’s boyfriend and Rosa’s lover), and Marco António (Rosa’s eldest son).
The prosecution alleges that on the night of August 3rd, Marco was poisoned with a mixture of insecticide and liquor, and subsequently taken alive to the Mondego River, where he died from the combined effects of poisoning and drowning.
The forensic pathologist responsible for the autopsy confirmed in court that Marco “was alive when he fell into the water” and “could have survived the poisoning alone,” but lacked the strength to fight.
A Portuguese emigrant was found lifeless on the banks of the Mondego River in 2021. Authorities concluded that he was the victim of a crime organized by his girlfriend, his mother-in-law, his wife’s lover, and her eldest son.
Andrea Pinto | 09:40 – 30/10/2025
The prosecution, cited by local newspaper Virgule, argues that “Rosa was the instigator” and the “driving force” behind the crime, while her mother “came up with the idea of the poison.” João, meanwhile, allegedly mixed the poison with alcohol.
Marco António, Marco’s stepson, played “a less active role” despite being “aware of the situation,” and he is currently free. The Public Prosecutor now requests his acquittal.
In court, Marco António recounted that his mother had told him her partner would not return from vacation, but he didn’t take it “seriously” as Rosa “always makes these types of remarks.” On the night of the crime, the young man, now 27, put his younger sister to bed and saw the family seated on the terrace.
Later, he awoke in the middle of the night to find Marco staggering through the house and vomiting. “I thought it was because of the alcohol,” explained Rosa’s son, adding that he later heard the sound of a car.
During the trial, as pointed out by Virgule, the three Portuguese involved in the crime gave different accounts of what transpired, with João accusing Rosa and Maria Clara of lying. “Those two are always making things up,” he said.
Marco’s sister, who described the four suspects as “monsters” and argued they should “suffer more” than her brother did, also testified that Rosa “never did anything at home” and Marco “was her slave.”
An old friend of Rosa’s revealed that she and Marco had a good start to their relationship and that he “paid for everything.” However, things changed when Rosa began her involvement with João.
The crime, believed to have been planned in Luxembourg and executed in Portugal, is thought to be connected to Marco’s life insurance policy, which the three main suspects believed was worth between 400,000 and 500,000 euros but was actually valued at 15,000 euros and had been canceled.
