Two children watched in horror as their mother was stabbed to death “because of the dinner” she had prepared. This is how the latest horrific case of domestic violence was reported by national tabloid Correio da Manhã.
Thirty-nine-year-old Sónia Sousa is understood to have tried to get away from her drunken husband, to no avail.
Her body was found on the steps of the family’s apartment building in Fânzeres, Gondomar.
According to CM, the crime – which occurred on Sunday night – “took everyone by surprise” as there had been no history of domestic violence in the household.
Needless to say, the children, aged four and 16, are receiving psychiatric support, with the youngest being cared for by relatives.
This has been another “bad” year for domestic violence, with already 33 women having lost their lives to brutality from current or former partners.
Speaking earlier this year, Antero Luís, secretary general for Portugal’s internal security system, said domestic violence has now become the country’s greatest concern as it remains a crime over which police have little influence, particularly in terms of prevention.
As newspapers are constantly pointing out these days, domestic violence has become more lethal than road accidents and cancer.
