After what must be one of the longest bids to avoid trial, former PSD MP and convicted fraudster Duarte Lima has heard that a court date has finally been set for magistrates to hear the evidence against him in the investigation into the murder of an elderly heiress in Brazil 13 years ago.
Sintra criminal court has scheduled the first hearing for March 9, with a second date fixed for one week later.
Lima has always refuted the accusation. The evidence against him however left Brazilian prosecutors with no doubts as to Mr Lima’s guilt (click here) – and as he showed no inclination to travel to Brazil for a trial, the only alternative was to take the trial to him.
Duarte Lima is currently in jail, in Sintra, for his part in the Homeland financial scandal (click here).
In a week when a study showed Portuguese nationals do not trust the justice system, this is perhaps one incident when – albeit late – justice seems to be inching forwards. That said, TVI 24 has stressed that Mr Lima’s defence could appeal this decision, delaying the process even further.
