– Judge Criticizes Fernando Valente After Acquitting Mónica Silva’s Family

Judge Criticizes Fernando Valente After Acquitting Mónica Silva’s Family

The judge who acquitted Filomena and Sara Silva, the aunt and twin sister of the pregnant woman who went missing in Murtosa, was not lenient towards Fernando Valente, who demanded six thousand euros from both for defamation. The businessman and his family were not present during the reading of the sentence, which took place on Monday at the Estarreja court.

The judge concluded that there was no intention to offend Fernando and referred to the ongoing case regarding Mónica’s death, which is under appeal at the Porto Court of Appeals. “The Public Prosecutor’s Office, in the legitimate exercise of its powers, concludes in terms similar to those of Maria Filomena, for example, as it accuses Fernando Valente of the practice of qualified homicide, abortion, and a crime of corpse desecration, pointing to the same motive for the crime and alluding to the same facts to support the conclusions reached in its public accusation,” the judge stated.

The judge addressed Fernando as Mónica Silva’s “friend/partner” and reminded him that the acquittal in the death case “has not yet become final,” leaving the door open for a potential reversal of the decision and eventual conviction by the Porto Court of Appeals.

António Falé de Carvalho, the lawyer for Filomena and Sara, praised the judge’s decision, admitting that he did not expect the acquittal for both.