Trial Suspended for Brazilian Stabbing Suspect in Andorran Student's Death Outside Braga Bar

The trial of Brazilian national Matheus Marley Machado, accused of fatally stabbing 19-year-old Andorran student Manuel de Oliveira Gonçalves—known as Manu—outside a Braga bar remains suspended, with no decision yet from Guimarães Appeal Court on the defence's challenge to the judges' impartiality.

Machado's lawyers sought to disqualify the three-judge panel at Braga court, including presiding judge Sónia Martins, alleging premature judgments during evidence, partial conduct by other magistrates, and failure to correct witnesses who called the accused "the killer." The panel rejected the claims in a joint statement, asserting their actions complied with legal standards, and referred the matter to the higher court, halting the final session. Prosecutors and Manu's family view the move as a delaying tactic, given strong witness testimony identifying Machado, while the defence warns of evidence contamination if bias is confirmed. The Appeal Court was expected to rule on the expected date, but proceedings stay paused pending the outcome, which could resume the trial or require a full restart.

The incident unfolded in the early hours of 12 April 2025 outside Bar Académico in Braga's university area. Manu confronted a member of Machado's group over suspected tampering with a girl's drink using a hallucinogenic substance. Verbal tension spilled into a brawl involving over 20 people, leaving Manu with three stab wounds to vital areas—armpit, back, and arm. He arrived at Braga's Central Hospital in critical condition and died soon after. Witnesses reported seeing Machado strike again after Manu fell, before fleeing; police arrested him shortly afterward as he tried to exit Portugal. He has been in custody since.

Public prosecutors charge aggravated murder under articles 131 and 132 of the Portuguese Penal Code, citing use of a prohibited knife under Law 5/2006, along with illegal possession of the weapon. Both they and Manu's family, acting as private prosecutors, demand a 25-year sentence followed by deportation to Brazil, plus €750,000 compensation for loss of life. Manu's parents and sister hold indirect victim status, though his family's resources and the suspect's finances make payment improbable. The charges acknowledge the brawl context but emphasize the homicide.

The trial opened on 26 January 2025 with four sessions until 4 March. Three eyewitnesses identified Machado as the stabber, some noting prior threats from him. Machado gave conflicting accounts during investigation—initial denial, then self-defence—before staying silent in court. Friends said Manu carried a knife that night due to earlier threats, but it is unclear if he drew it first or if it matched the attack weapon.

A fellow inmate and Machado associate first implicated him but later retracted, claiming no memory of a knife; this led to perjury charges amid suspicions of pressure from shared time in Porto prison. Manu's parents, prominent traders from Pas de la Casa, marked the first anniversary with a memorial Mass on Sunday at 7:45pm at Sant Pere church. Family members have described the mother's ongoing distress as the case drags on. All sides await Guimarães' ruling.