Decision day over responsibility for young commando deaths

Five years since the horrific deaths of 22-year-old Dylan Silva and Hugo Abreu, aged 20 – and over three years since the trial process began (click here) – today is the day (see update below) for judges’ decision-making over who was ultimately responsible. Nineteen military men have been charged with a total of 539 crimes involving abuse of authority and offenses to physical integrity. Some are expected to ‘have the book’ thrown at them, others to be absolved. The decision should be announced later today by the Tribunal de Monsanto in Lisbon. UPDATE: But it was not to be: the reading of the judges’ decision has been delayed by a “technical problem” (thought to be related to the sound system in the courtroom…) According to reports, there has been no date given for the matter to be addressed. Reactions from family members hoping for closure have not yet been given.