In the verdict reading at the Guimarães Criminal Court, under heightened security measures, Diogo Meireles, known by the nickname ‘Xió’, received a prison sentence of 12 years for the crime of homicide and an additional two and a half years for stealing the victim’s mobile phone. The panel of judges imposed a combined sentence of 13 years and six months, as Meireles was also convicted as a repeat offender.
Bruno Ribeiro, referred to as ‘espanhol’, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the murder of Hugo Ribeiro.
The defendants were charged by the Public Prosecutor’s Office with co-perpetration of qualified homicide, a crime that carries a maximum sentence of 25 years. However, the court reclassified the legal qualification of the crime, convicting them both of simple homicide, with a maximum penalty of 16 years.
The panel of judges concluded that the defendants “acted together in common effort and intent,” emphasizing that the death of Hugo Ribeiro, who was attacked with a knife and struck with a stone on the head near the Noa nightclub in the early hours of March 7, 2022, following confrontations between unrelated groups, resulted from the actions of the two defendants.
The presiding judge stated it was impossible to determine “the motive for the altercation,” noting that the defendants denied the facts and offered differing accounts from each other and from the charges outlined by the Public Prosecutor.
The incident occurred in the early morning of March 7, 2022, when the defendants arrived at the Noa nightclub in S. Cosme, Vila Nova de Famalicão, and were blocked at the entrance, leading to clashes with other patrons of the nightspot, culminating in the death of 21-year-old Hugo Ribeiro by stabbing and stoning.
Following the verdict, tension arose inside the courtroom, with relatives of Diogo Meireles (‘Xió’) accusing Bruno Ribeiro (‘espanhol’) of failing to admit to the homicide, asserting that he was the perpetrator, which prompted intervention from the present prison guard personnel and a warning from the presiding judge.
In response, Diogo Meireles reiterated his innocence and assigned blame to fellow defendant Bruno Ribeiro.
“Madam judge, I did not trip [the victim]. I am suffering for something I did not do. Tripping, punches, and kicks that I did not give. That man [pointing to Bruno Ribeiro] was mocking your work. I have always been honest with you, madam judge,” stated the defendant.
Outside the court, tension persisted as the prison vans carrying the defendants, who remain in pretrial detention, departed.
[News updated at 16:35]
