New Developments in the Case of Odair Moniz: Police Agent Interrogated Over Knife Incident

Knife Allegedly Linked to Odair Moniz Seized

The knife that allegedly belonged to Odair Moniz, who was fatally shot by a police officer in October at the Cova da Moura neighborhood (Amadora), has been seized by authorities and is part of the ongoing investigation, according to judicial sources.

Police Agent Interrogated

On Wednesday, the police officer, currently on medical leave, was interrogated by the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) at the Department of Investigation and Criminal Action in Lisbon. After the interrogation, the officer's attorney, Ricardo Serrano Vieira, confirmed to reporters that a knife was present at the crime scene, but he refrained from providing further details.

Investigation Details

Judicial sources informed Lusa that the knife that was in the possession of Odair Moniz is included in the case. The police officer chose not to make any statements to the MP, as his defense has not yet had access to the case file due to ongoing judicial secrecy. The officer was confronted with evidence during the interrogation.

Disciplinary Proceedings Underway

In recent days, the officer has also been notified to provide statements to the Inspectorate-General of Internal Administration (IGAI) as a witness. Alongside the judicial process, disciplinary proceedings are ongoing within both the IGAI and the PSP. The inquiry at the IGAI was ordered by the Minister of Internal Administration, Margarida Blasco, who emphasized its urgent nature.

Background on the Incident

Odair Moniz, a 43-year-old citizen from Cape Verde living in the Bairro do Zambujal in Amadora, was shot by a PSP officer in the early hours of October 21. He succumbed to his injuries shortly after at Hospital São Francisco Xavier in Lisbon. According to the official PSP version, Moniz attempted to flee in a car upon seeing a police vehicle, crashed in Cova da Moura, and allegedly resisted arrest while attempting to attack officers with a knife.

Calls for Accountability

The SOS Racismo association and the Vida Justa movement have challenged the police's narrative, demanding a serious and impartial investigation to ascertain accountability, citing a prevailing culture of impunity within the police forces.

Public Unrest

Following the incident, unrest erupted in Zambujal and other neighborhoods in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area, resulting in burned and vandalized buses, cars, and trash bins, leading to around twenty arrests and numerous suspects identified.