Accusations and Contradictions
According to the accusations made today, which Lusa has obtained, Odair Moniz allegedly attempted to flee from the PSP (Polícia de Segurança Pública) and resisted arrest. However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office does not describe any threats involving a knife. This information contradicts the official statement released by the PSP on the day of Odair Moniz’s death, which claimed that he “resisted arrest” and attempted to assault the officers “using a knife.”
Investigation into Alleged Forgery
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has initiated a separate investigation concerning the alleged forgery of the PSP report connected to Odair Moniz’s death, which occurred in Cova da Moura, Amadora, on October 21, 2024. The official report mentions that a dagger, measuring 25 centimeters in length with a 15-centimeter blade and a plastic handle, was found “in the vicinity” of where Odair collapsed, near a parked car. However, the dagger “did not have sufficient biological traces to obtain a DNA profile,” as noted in the report.
Details of the Incident
Odair Moniz died in Cova da Moura after being shot twice by a PSP officer, who has since been charged with homicide. The officer began his career with the police in 2022. The first shot was fired from a distance of between 20 and 50 centimeters, striking Odair in the chest. At that moment, Odair was still “standing,” but the officer then fired a second shot from a distance of 75 centimeters to one meter, hitting him in the groin.
As Odair fell to the ground, another officer, who is not facing charges in this case, struck him with a baton, causing his body to roll and become immobilized. According to the autopsy, the cause of death was the first bullet.
Prosecutor’s Findings
The Public Prosecutor’s Office asserts that the officer accused of homicide “knew that shooting twice from close range at Odair’s body was likely to cause serious harm.” Despite this knowledge, the officer allegedly intended to strike Odair with two bullets to incapacitate him. Prosecutor Patrícia Agostinho, who is leading the inquiry, elaborated on this point.
Events Leading to the Shooting
The accusation further details the events leading up to the shooting, describing how the two PSP officers, on duty during the early hours of October 21, 2024, encountered Odair Moniz. The officers were descending Avenida da República in Amadora while Odair was exiting the Cova da Moura neighborhood via Rua Principal.
As he turned right, Odair ended up facing the police car but had already signaled to turn left. Upon seeing the PSP vehicle, he “swerved his car to the right, accelerated, and continued down Avenida da República,” according to the accusation. Realizing the change in direction, the two officers initiated a police chase that only concluded within Cova da Moura.
Response from the Public Prosecutor’s Office
The Public Prosecutor’s Office believes that the PSP officer “did not do everything in his power to preserve human life and resorted to the extreme measure of using a firearm against a person, accepting the possibility of Odair Moniz’s death.” The officer who fired the shots at Odair Moniz is now facing homicide charges, and the Public Prosecutor’s Office has also requested the suspension of his duties as a precautionary measure, along with a prohibition on exercising his function, already in the sentencing phase.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office has requested an investigation into the alleged forgery of the PSP report regarding Odair Moniz’s death, highlighting that the report “contains inconsistencies and inaccuracies” concerning its authorship and the times it was created.
