Duarte Lima Trial Resumes in Portugal After 17 Years

The trial of Domingos Duarte Lima for the 2009 murder of Rosalina Ribeiro officially commenced at the court in Sintra, Portugal. The proceedings mark a significant milestone in a legal process that began more than seventeen years ago in Brazil, before being transferred to Portuguese jurisdiction at the end of 2020.

During the opening session led by Judge Carlos Camacho, the court encountered technical difficulties when attempting to locate digital records and the recorded testimony of key witness Olímpia Feteira from the original Brazilian case files. Judge Camacho noted that the case has already exceeded all reasonable timeframes, emphasizing the importance of keeping the judicial process moving forward.

The prosecution acknowledged ongoing difficulties in formally notifying witnesses and confirming the deaths of individuals connected to the case through Brazilian authorities. With the official confirmation of the death of Olímpia Tomé Feteira, the daughter of millionaire Lúcio Feteira, the court determined that her previously recorded audiovisual testimony would be played during the upcoming hearings.

When asked by the presiding judge whether he wished to address the allegations, Duarte Lima declined to speak, stating through his lawyer, "For now, on the advice of my attorney, I will not make any statements." The defendant sat in the front row of the courtroom as the session unfolded.

Defense attorney João Neto criticized the extensive media coverage surrounding the case, arguing that his client had already been tried outside the courtroom. Neto told the court that the case arrived at trial "already judged, but not in court" and asserted that the defendant's name had taken on a life of its own throughout the lengthy proceedings.

The defense also requested the inclusion of medical documents detailing the clinical situation of the defendant under restricted access. However, Judge Camacho rejected the request to keep the documents private, explaining that information entered into the case file naturally becomes accessible.

The initial hearing faced additional scheduling hurdles when a scheduled witness, Rosemary Espínola, failed to answer the court roll call. Consequently, the judge adjourned the session, and the trial is scheduled to resume on November 19.