Suspected of killing “Manu” was investigated for violation

Suspected of murder at the academic bar in Braga, he was in custody.

The 27 -year -old Brazilian Matheus Marley Machado He has been in custody and is being investigated for the murder of Manuel Gonçalves, known as “Manu”, the 19 -year -old who was stabbed to the door of the Braga Academic Bar and who died following the attack at dawn on April 12.

“Manu” has been portrayed on social networks as a hero: the motivations of the crime are yet to find out, but the 19 -year -old student has been attacked after reporting a group that would adulterate girls’ drinks at the academic bar. In Braga, with drugs – although this version was not officially confirmed by PJ and PSP.

The defendant lived in Portugal since August 2023 and resided in the area of ​​Greater Porto. Before the murder, it had already been the target of a VIOLATION INVESTIGATIONconducted by the Porto Judicial Police, advanced this Sunday. However, the process was filed in the inquiry phase due to the withdrawal of the complaint by the victim, although the Brazilian is already identified by the authorities as a suspect.

In addition to the charge of violation, the name of Matheus Machado also appears associated with episodes of violence and disorder in the PSP area of ​​Porto. One of these episodes involved disregard at a metro station, where he would have assaulted an employee, among other situations registered by the police, the morning states.

In the case of Manuel Gonçalves’s murder, the investigations indicate that the victim and the suspect were initially involved in verbal and physical clashes Inside the bar, being expelled by security, by different doors. About two hours later, they will have met on the street, where Manu was mortally stabbed.

Suspect declares is innocent

The Brazilian He says he is innocent and denies knowing the victim or have had any confrontation with it. However, it was recognized by several witnesses and appears in the images of the security cameras that night. His defense lawyer claims that the crime weapon, a knife, would have been brought by the “Manu” himself.

After the crime, the suspect fled the scene and He was in part uncertain for six days.

It was in Sopegal, Castelo Branco, where he would be hiding at his girlfriend’s mother’s house and would plan to flee abroad at the time of detention. I had not done so for lack of money, according to.

The Jornal de Notícias revealed that the suspect has been in Portugal since 2023, after being deported from the United States, where he served prison for armed robberies. Due to its criminal registration, the agency for integration, migrations and asylum rejected its request for residence authorization in Portugal.