BRAGA, Portugal — Mateus Marley Machado, a 27-year-old suspect, don land for prison preventive following di fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old student, Manuel Gonçalves, known as ‘Manu,’ outside Bar Académico on Saturday, April 12.
Di incident happen around 5:30 a.m. during a physical confront between two groups that just dey laff-wahala for di inside of di bar. Di police confirm say before di stabbing, di two groups don already quarrel for di bar, wey result in dem being chased out. Outside, dem involve again in another fight before di suspect use knife stab di victim in di chest and arm, leading to his death despite emergency efforts, according to di Polícia Judiciária (PJ).
Di local police confirm say na during di ongoing investigation, dem locate di suspect for a remote area in Castelo Branco, where he dey plan to run away from di country. “We for PJ accomplish one continuous investigation wey help us identify and catch di aggressor, wey don dey hide,” di police spokesperson talk.
During di first court hearing at Vila Nova de Famalicão, di court decide to put Mateus for preventive detention, calling dis di most severe measure. His lawyer, António Falé de Carvalho, argue say di evidence wey di court get no fit hold water, stating that witnesses market di accused based on unverified social media rumors. “Come, di evidence showed no fit stand tough. Dem talk say di people wey fit take witness dey under influence of alcohol and drugs,” he explain.
Mateus don also maintain say he no get anything to do with di crime. “He no know di victim nor dey involved in di fight,” di lawyer add. Di attorney also promise say dem go appeal di court’s decision and question di evidence wey dey against his client.
A report from di PJ indicate say di suspect done dey in trouble before, as he get criminal history in di United States where he serve time for armed robbery. He don dey for Portugal since 2023, but di AIMA don reject his residency application, and dem dey plan to deport him.
Di incident don shock di whole Braga community, especially di academic circle, as di investigation dey continue to clear all di facts surrounding di violent crime. Di university and di Associacao Academica wey operate di bar don also face backlash after di incident, as di bar don experience two different fire outbreaks since di stabbing, causing significant damage.
Di inquiry continue as police dey gather more evidence to clarify di situation and motive for di attack, while Mateus remain in preventive detention awaiting next steps of di legal proceedings.
