Nine months after the murder of a schoolboy, whose body was dumped on wasteland just 80 metres from his Portimão home, the Judicial Police has confirmed that officers are to travel to Brazil to question the prime suspect, Joaquim Lara Pinto.
The 15-year-old victim, Rodrigo Lapa, disappeared on February 22nd this year, but his uncovered body was discovered only on March 2nd near his home in Malheiro - he had been beaten and strangled.
Only now are investigators taking action to interview Rodrigo’s step-father who flew to Brazil on the day the boy disappeared.
The pressure has been constant from Rodrigo’s friends and supporters who have been adept at using social media to put pressure on the authorities to take some action as the prime suspect is in a known location, albeit in Brazil which has no extradition treaty in force with Portugal.
The friends of Rodrigo Lapa are distressed and angry that nothing has happened for nine months, and say that "this case can not go unpunished"
A guarantee of action was given this week by Judicial Police which has been investigating the brutal murder, “a rogatory letter already has been sent to Brazil and a team of investigators is already organising a trip to continue the investigation into the death of Rodrigo Lapa."
Rodrigo Lapa had lived with his mother, baby sister and stepfather.
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See also
- 1. New evidence “implicates mother” in murder of Algarve teen Rodrigo Lapa
- (News)
- ... Rodrigo was scheduled for Praia das Maças in Sintra, Sol’s report could well be a precursor of events about to unfold. For now, it simply reviews Barreto’s conflicting stories: how she insists Rodrigo ...
- Created on 23 April 2016
- 2. Thousands push for “Justice for Rodrigo” - the Algarve teen murdered in February
- (News)
- Thousands of people are pushing for “Justice for Rodrigo Lapa”, the Algarve teen whose battered body was found on scrubland near his Portimão home in February - presumably killed by his absconded Brazilian ...
- Created on 18 April 2016
- 3. Prime suspect in Portimão teenager's murder may face criminal proceedings in Brazil
- (News)
- The Rodrigo Lapa murder inquiry - the 15-year-old who was strangled and dumped on land near his Portimão home - has one key suspect. Rodrigo’s stepfather is wanted for questioning but he fled to Brazil ...
- Created on 10 March 2016
- 4. Missing Algarve teenager found dead
- (News)
- Missing teenager Rodrigo Lapa was found dead this morning in a countryside area behind the house near Malheiro, Portimão where he lived with his mother, step-father and little sister. Rodrigo, 15, had ...
- Created on 02 March 2016
