A 33-year-old man arrested in São Domingos de Rana, Cascais, is now behind bars facing preventive detention (prisão preventiva—pre-trial custody that places the accused in jail pending trial, reserved for serious cases where there is flight risk or danger to victims) after allegedly threatening to kill his pregnant former partner and take their newborn child, according to a statement released by the Polícia de Segurança Pública (PSP) on Monday. The case underscores the persistent dangers faced by pregnant women in abusive relationships and highlights Portugal's legal framework designed to protect victims even when the violence is non-physical.
Why This Matters
• Preventive detention applied: The suspect was ordered into custody without awaiting trial, a measure reserved for cases where authorities believe the danger of continued criminal activity is immediate.
• Pregnancy as a flashpoint: The man allegedly rejected the pregnancy from the start, escalating his threats after the child's birth in April 2026.
• Legal recourse for threats: Under Portugal's Article 152 of the Penal Code, violence and threats in domestic contexts are prosecuted as public crimes, enabling intervention before physical harm occurs.
A Relationship Born Behind Bars
The suspect and victim met under unusual circumstances—during his incarceration at Linhó Prison in August 2025. After his release the following month, the two began a relationship. The woman became pregnant shortly afterward and moved into his home in São Domingos de Rana, a civil parish within the municipality of Cascais, roughly 20 km west of Lisbon.
What began as a romantic connection deteriorated rapidly. Between November and December 2025, the man returned home intoxicated one afternoon around 3 p.m. and began verbally abusing his mother. When his girlfriend suggested he stop drinking, he grabbed her by the throat with considerable force and pinned her against a bedroom wall, according to PSP investigators. She threatened to call the police, and he left the residence.
Flight, Return, and Birth of an 'Unwanted' Child
By early 2026, the relationship had collapsed. The woman left for France but soon returned to Lisbon. In March 2026, she moved in with her sister in Cascais. The following month, in April 2026, she gave birth to the couple's son—a pregnancy the suspect repeatedly called "unwanted," PSP officials noted.
Throughout the gestation, the woman endured what authorities described as a "highly turbulent pregnancy." The man allegedly sent a stream of text messages and phone calls in which he threatened to kill her and told her she could not have the child. The harassment continued after the birth.
On June 5, 2026, the victim learned through acquaintances that the suspect was publicly declaring his intention to murder her if he encountered her on the street and to take custody of their infant son. He allegedly tried multiple times to lure her to in-person meetings using fake social media accounts and conducted surveillance near her current residence.
Arrest and Court Intervention
The PSP detained the man on June 12, 2026 outside the context of an active crime scene—a power granted under Portugal's Code of Criminal Procedure when authorities believe there is imminent danger of continued criminal activity or risk to the victim's safety. Following his first judicial interrogation, a judge imposed preventive detention, the most severe pre-trial coercion measure available under Portuguese law.
This move places the suspect in custody pending trial, a decision typically reserved for cases involving serious crimes, flight risk, or the likelihood of reoffending. It reflects judicial recognition that the threats posed an ongoing and credible danger.
What This Means for Victims and Their Children
Portugal's legal architecture for domestic violence cases has evolved significantly in the past two decades. Law 112/2009, amended multiple times, establishes a comprehensive framework for prevention, protection, and victim assistance. Domestic violence is classified as a public crime, meaning any citizen—not just the victim—can file a report, and the state is obligated to investigate.
When a woman is pregnant, the stakes are especially high. Research conducted in Portugal shows that violence during pregnancy affects between 34% and 43% of expectant mothers, with psychological abuse being the most common form. Pregnant victims face elevated risks of chronic stress, premature birth, low birth weight, and long-term trauma for both mother and child.
Portugal's Rede Nacional de Apoio a Vítimas de Violência Doméstica (RNAVVD), the national network for domestic violence support, is mandated to provide shelter, psychological counseling, and legal aid. In the first quarter of 2025, according to recent statistics, 1,412 people—including 741 women and 649 children—were admitted to these facilities. During the same period, authorities recorded 7,056 domestic violence incidents and issued 1,289 restraining orders.
For victims with children, specialized programs exist. Casas de Abrigo (shelters) operate around the clock, offering secure, confidential housing and resources for education, health, and social reintegration. Psychotherapeutic services tailored to children exposed to domestic violence are also expanding. The Espaço Lara program, for example, provides group and individual therapy for young witnesses and victims in the Porto metropolitan area, co-financed by Portugal 2030 funds.
Cascais Launches Strategic Plan Against Domestic Violence
The Cascais case arrives as the municipality finalizes a Strategic Plan for Prevention and Combating Domestic Violence (2026–2028), which entered public consultation in May. The plan aims to improve victim support networks, reduce recidivism, and hold perpetrators accountable through coordinated intervention.
The timing is relevant: on June 9, another Cascais man—aged 59—was placed in preventive detention for domestic violence and illegal weapon possession after a relationship that ended in April. Taken together, these incidents reflect both the prevalence of domestic abuse in the region and the heightened enforcement posture of local authorities.
How to Seek Help
Anyone in Portugal who is aware of or experiencing domestic violence can file a report at any PSP or GNR station, contact the Polícia Judiciária, or reach the Public Prosecutor's Office directly. Emergency calls should be made to 112. The Linha de Apoio à Vítima (116 006), operated by the Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima (APAV), provides free, anonymous, and confidential counseling. The Comissão para a Cidadania e a Igualdade de Género (CIG) runs an information hotline at 800 202 148.
Importantly, victims are not required to pay for the filing of complaints or for forensic medical examinations conducted by the Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal e Ciências Forenses. Once a report is filed—and absent clear evidence it is unfounded—the complainant is automatically granted victim status, unlocking access to shelter, legal representation, and protection measures.
The Broader Context
While this case involves a single arrest, it is part of a larger pattern. Between 2021 and 2024, APAV reported a 29.3% increase in requests for help related to domestic violence, assisting 43,110 victims during that period. In the first quarter of 2025, Portugal recorded seven domestic violence homicides—six women and one man.
The escalation of threats during and after pregnancy is well-documented. Studies indicate that perpetrators often view pregnancy as a loss of control, triggering increased aggression. In this case, the suspect allegedly told the victim she "could not have the child" and maintained that the pregnancy was unwanted—language that signals both psychological coercion and potential risk to the infant's safety.
Portugal's judiciary has increasingly used preventive detention and electronic monitoring to manage high-risk offenders. Under the Penal Code, judges can impose mandatory attendance at perpetrator intervention programs, ban firearm possession, and enforce no-contact orders monitored by ankle bracelets. These tools are designed to prevent repeat offenses and protect victims during the vulnerable period between arrest and trial.
Legal Consequences Ahead
If convicted, the suspect faces a sentence that could range from one to five years for domestic violence under Article 152, with aggravating factors—such as threats to kill and the involvement of a newborn—potentially increasing the penalty. If the victim or child had been killed, the sentence would escalate to three to ten years.
The case is now in the hands of the Ministério Público, which will decide whether to proceed to trial. Given the preventive detention order, the judicial system has already determined that the evidence is substantial and the risk of harm ongoing. The outcome will likely hinge on documentation of the threats, witness testimony, and any forensic evidence of physical assault from the November-December 2025 incident.
For residents of Cascais and greater Lisbon, this case is a reminder that domestic violence remains one of Portugal's most urgent public safety challenges—and that the legal system, while imperfect, is increasingly willing to act decisively when credible threats emerge.
