António Luís Costa

Case record

Timeline

• 24 June 2006 — António Luís Costa was arrested by the Polícia Judiciária.
• 4 July 2007 — The trial started.
• 31 July 2007 — The court found António Luís Costa guilty of all crimes except for the crime of hiding the body of one victim; the sentence was reduced to 25 years.

Background

António Luís Costa was an ex-GNR soldier from Santa Comba Dão, Portugal. He killed three young women.

The offence

António Luís Costa killed three women and also committed related offences including hiding the body of victims, profaning a body (for undressing a body), attempting sexual coercion, and calumnious denunciation (for accusing an uncle of Lourenço for the crimes).

The first victim was Isabel Cristina Isidoro, who went missing on May 24, 2005. Her body was recovered from the ocean on May 31, 2005. Costa’s account stated that after he had consensual sexual relations with the first victim and asked for a kiss from the second and third victims, he suffocated them when they threatened to tell.

The second victim was Mariana Lourenço, who went missing on October 14, 2005. Her mutilated body was found in June 2006.

The third and last victim was Joana Oliveira, who went missing on May 8, 2006. Her body was recovered from under a bridge based on directions given by Costa.

Investigation

António Luís Costa was telephone tapped confessing the crimes to his family.

At first, he confessed the crimes both to the police and to the judge conducting the preliminary investigation, but later he withdrew his confession and accused an uncle of Lourenço of the crimes. Costa said that he was coerced by the Polícia Judiciária to confess; the Polícia Judiciária refuted that accusation.

Arrest

António Luís Costa was arrested by the Polícia Judiciária on 24 June 2006.

Trial

The trial started on 4 July 2007. During the trial, Costa claimed his innocence and remained mute except for the first and last court sessions.

Charges

The defender was charged with three murders, three crimes of hiding the body, one crime of profaning the body (for undressing a body), two crimes of attempting sexual coercion, and one crime of calumnious denunciation (for accusing an uncle of Lourenço for the crimes).

Prosecution position

The Ministério Público (public prosecutor) asked for a sentence of 25 years of prison, the maximum allowed under the Portuguese law, and stated that they only did not ask for more because it is not possible.

The prosecution said that the defender acted on a sexual impulse. The prosecution also said that from the start Costa tried to be considered insane as a mean to escape the trial, but two psychiatric examinations found the defender to be sane enough to stand trial.

Defence position

The defence said that a psychiatric examinations found no psychopathy and no promiscuous sexual behaviour. The defence also stated that the rights of the defender where not respected since he was treated as a guilty psychopath serial killer.

The defence said that the testimony given by witnesses may not be reliable because of inconsistencies and because the witness discussed the case between them. The police investigation was criticized by the defence, which said that some persons were not investigated enough.

Sentencing

On 31 July 2007, the court found António Luís Costa guilty of all crimes except for the crime of hiding the body of Isabel Cristina Isidoro, since she was still alive when she was thrown to the ocean.

The defender was sentenced to 64.5 years in prison, reduced to 25 years, the maximum penalty under Portuguese law.

The defence lawyer announced that the defence would appeal the conviction.

Outcome

The final conviction covered all charged offences except for the crime of hiding the body of Isabel Cristina Isidoro, and the prison term was reduced to 25 years.

Aftermath

The case received extensive media attention in Portugal and was front page in some newspapers.

There was criticism to the maximum penalty of 25 years in Portugal, with some people arguing that more severe sentences should be allowed.