PSP chief expresses “great solidarity” with agent who shot dead unarmed chef

The head of Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) has expressed “great solidarity” today with the young officer convicted over the fatal shooting of Odair Moniz in the Cova da Moura neighbourhood of Amadora, after a court ruled Moniz was unarmed when he was killed.

PSP National Director Luís Carrilho said he regretted the death of Odair Moniz but defended officer Bruno Pinto, who was handed a suspended prison sentence of three years and six months by the Sintra court yesterday, after being found guilty of homicide, but as a result of ‘excessive legitimate defence’.

“It is always sad and regrettable when a human life is lost,” Carrilho told Lusa during celebrations marking the 148th anniversary of the PSP District Command in Portalegre. “But I want to leave a word of great solidarity for our police officer, Bruno. I am certain he wanted to do his best, as was proven in court yesterday.”

Carrilho stressed that police officers work daily to guarantee public safety and public order, adding that the PSP respects the court’s ruling.

“The sentence is not yet final. We must respect the decisions of the courts. Portugal is a democratic state governed by the rule of law, and the PSP is proud to be part of both the justice and security systems,” he said.

The case centres on the fatal shooting of Odair Moniz in October 2024 in Cova da Moura, a neighbourhood in the municipality of Amadora.

In its ruling, the court accepted most of the facts presented by prosecutors and concluded there was “abundant evidence” that Moniz was not carrying a knife at the time of the shooting, as initially announced by the PSP in statements to the press.

“At no point is a bladed weapon seen,” the presiding judge said, noting that neither the officer accompanying Bruno Pinto nor any other witness reported seeing a knife.

The court found that Pinto, now 28, acted in self-defence but used excessive force. Judges cited what they described as “very special circumstances”, including close physical proximity between Moniz and Pinto and alleged threats of aggression made by Moniz shortly before Pinto shot at him, twice.

Because the court recognised excessive force within a self-defence scenario, the applicable sentence range was significantly reduced. Instead of the eight to 16 years normally associated with homicide convictions, the court applied a lower sentencing framework and imposed a suspended sentence of three years and six months.

Prosecutors had requested that the officer be suspended from duty. However, the judges ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to make that decision, leaving the matter to the PSP.

A separate disciplinary investigation by the Inspeção-Geral da Administração Interna (IGAI) remains ongoing.

The Odair Moniz case has drawn significant public attention and sparked renewed debate in Portugal over police use of force, accountability and relations between law enforcement and residents of disadvantaged urban communities.

Tragically, it has been said on a number of occasions over the last 24-hours, that if all PSP agents were equipped with tasers, Pinto would have used that, rather than his service weapon, and Odair Moniz would almost certainly still be alive today.

Source material: Lusa/ SIC Notícias/ Correio da Manhã