Supreme Court increases prison sentence for acid attack in Amarante
A waiter from Peso da Régua will spend 16 years in prison for throwing sulphuric acid at his former girlfriend in Amarante, after the Supreme Court of Justice of Portugal increased his sentence this week.
The Supreme Court announced on Thursday that it had denied the defendant's appeal and partially granted the victim's plea, raising the prison term from the original 12 years and 10 months imposed by the Tribunal de Penafiel. The revised sentence now covers qualified attempted homicide and aggravated domestic violence.
What the court decided
The original trial court had sentenced the man to 11 years for attempted homicide, plus additional time for the domestic violence charge. The Supreme Court judges determined that the penalty for attempted homicide should be raised to 14 years, and when combined with the aggravated domestic violence count, the total sentence reached 16 years.
The victim, aged 23, suffered severe and life-altering injuries. The defendant, who worked as a restaurant waiter, launched the attack after refusing to accept the end of their relationship, according to reporting by Jornal de Notícias at the time of the incident.
The attack occurred in Amarante in November 2024. The Supreme Court’s decision was communicated to newsrooms in an official statement.
How the law applies
Portuguese law does not have a specific criminal category for attacks using corrosive substances. Instead, courts apply existing statutes — most commonly offence to physical integrity or attempted homicide — depending on the perpetrator’s intent and the severity of the harm.
When such attacks occur within a domestic context, judges may apply the aggravated charge under Article 152 of the Penal Code, which permits harsher penalties. The Supreme Court’s ruling confirms this judicial approach is being consistently applied in cases of domestic violence.
No new legislation was enacted in response to this case. The existing legal framework already allows for severe penalties when acid attacks are linked to domestic abuse.
What this means for victims
The Supreme Court’s decision underscores that appellate courts in Portugal can and do increase sentences when victims or prosecutors appeal. Under Portuguese law, victims of domestic violence have the right to participate in criminal proceedings as an assistente — a legal status that empowers them to request sentence reviews and advocate for tougher penalties.
The 23-year-old victim suffered permanent injuries requiring years of medical treatment and psychological care. Due to privacy protections, her current condition remains undisclosed.
Support organizations for domestic violence victims across Portugal will continue receiving state funding starting in 2027, following the conclusion of their European Union funding cycles, as confirmed in June 2026. The Comissão para a Cidadania e a Igualdade de Género is responsible for overseeing this transition.
