Bruno Rodriguez, 37, pushed two safes over the victim, kicked him twice in the head, and then set the bedroom on fire.
On November 16 last year, the 37-year-old accused arrived at his home in Porto and demanded money from his mother, who refused. Enraged, the man pushed two safes into María Manuela Brito and set fire next to the bedroom. He went to the kitchen to eat, while his mother died surrounded by fire.
The Public Ministry of Porto now accuses Bruno of several crimes: premeditated murder, arson, continuous extortion, and even domestic violence in aggravated form. The trial begins next month.The accusation reveals that Bruno did not work and begged his 68-year-old mother for money daily. The woman had to hand over a significant part of her old-age pension to her son, as a result of which she often had no money for food and became hungry.To convince the mother to hand over the sums, the suspect made several cuts on his body, threw objects at the victim and made death threats. The episodes of violence continued until the day of the murder. Bruno got home, on Rua de Monte Alegre, at 1:00 am and, after pushing the lockers on top of his mother, kicked her twice in the head.
The suspect then doused several plastic bags containing books with ethyl alcohol. Then he lit a fire with a lighter, causing the flame to spread rapidly.
The fire took on great proportions and led to a cylinder explosion. In the kitchen, while he was still eating, Bruno heard his mother calling his name and went to the bedroom—located in the attic of the house—where the whole room was already occupied by flames. At that time, he called 112, while the victim was already on fire.Firefighters still moved María Manuela to the ground floor, but the death was pronounced at 3:40 am.
Captured by PJ
Bruno Rodriguez was arrested by the judicial police in Porto a few hours after the crime was committed. He has been held since then in Costoyas Prison in Matosinhos.
The prosecutor said in the indictment that the potential release of the defendants would cause “feelings of insecurity and rejection” in the community.
illegality of actions
The process says that drug use is inconsistent with the defendant’s behavior, but does not deprive him of the ability to assess the illegality of his actions.
Banned from the estate
Already in the indictment, the Porto Public Prosecutor’s Office requested that the accused’s succession be declared unentitled, so that he would not be entitled to any inheritance from his mother.
The suspect risks a heavy prison sentence. The prosecution called four witnesses for the prosecution.
Smoke inhalation and burns led to death
The autopsy report states that María Manuela Brito’s death occurred due to carbon monoxide poisoning, associated with widespread burns throughout the body and traumatic brain injury to the meninges from the fire, blows inflicted by the defendant and falling cabinets.
Women lived with many limitations
The victim was already suffering from several disabling conditions at the time of death. He had difficulties moving as well as expressing himself. María Manuela also lived in seclusion and had no family support.
“He was a very sad person.”
Maria Manuela’s neighbors told poison It was noted that the woman “was very sad” and that she had suffered greatly from her son’s problems.
I was spending 15 euros a day
The indictment says that because of the dependencies he had, Bruno had daily expenses of at least 15 euros. He consumed drugs and alcohol and also bought tobacco.
He had started other fires in the house, which the victim put out.
The prosecution at the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Porto understands that Bruno Rodriguez has already started other fires in the house, on earlier dates. María Manuela managed to put out the flames at that time, before it spread to the entire building.
The operation also reveals that on the day of the death, the fire was only put out by several members of the Sappadores do Porto. The barracks are 600 meters from the house.
“He knew that he was endangering his mother’s life and physical integrity, as it happened, not least because he had previously placed her in a defenseless position, because he had placed her under furniture and beat her, and prevented her from escaping from the advance of the fire and the resulting smoke,” the indictment states. About the Regional DIAP in Porto.
The flames ended up consuming much of the house’s interior, which was rendered uninhabitable. There was a dog in the house that was collected.
On November 16 last year, the 37-year-old accused arrived at his home in Porto and demanded money from his mother, who refused. Enraged, the man pushed two safes into María Manuela Brito and set fire next to the bedroom.
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