PJ police in Madeira investigate two murders ‘among neighbours’ in space of two days

Madeira’s PJ judicial police have had the unusual experience this week of two murders to investigate in the space of two days.

The only positive aspect is that both have been ‘solved’: the victims were killed by their neighbours. Quite why, however, has not been fully explained.

The first death involved a German woman carrying mace spray.

According to Correio da Manhã, the 66-year-old had been living in Santana, on the island, for about a year and did not even know her neighbour. But they met on Monday evening, and for some reason, began arguing. The German woman then used her mace spray on the neighbour, spraying him in the face, whereupon he pushed her, and she fell heavily, hitting her head on the stone of an irrigation canal, and “dying as a result of her injuries”.

The incident was reported to police by a family member of the 58-year-old Portuguese man who pushed the victim – and he was taken into police custody. Investigators are considering charges of negligent homicide, but seeking to clarify the sequence of events before they determine the appropriate legal classification.

Literally hours after the Santana incident (the murder was not called in until late on Monday night), there was another untimely death in Câmara de Lobos – only a distance of 50kms away, when a 60-year-old (with a criminal record) allegedly stabbed a 55-year-old several times “in front of the building where he lived”.

According to Madeira social media, CM says the two were known to exchange mutual insults, and “a climate of violence extended through their respective families”.

In this case, the 60-year-old has also been taken into police custody.

Source material: Correio da Manhã

Natasha Donn

Journalist for the Portugal Resident.