A 20-year-old man stabbed his 50-year-old stepfather to death at their apartment in Maia, Portugal, early on Sunday morning before handing himself in to police.
Ivan fled the third-floor apartment in Vermoim after attacking Juan Mandim with a knife. He remained uncontactable for several hours before voluntarily surrendering at a Public Security Police station at 4:45 am, where he told officers he killed the older man to protect himself and his mother.
Mandim suffered stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. He managed to call the police for help but died at the scene from heavy bleeding before emergency services arrived.
The suspect told authorities that Mandim went to his bedroom and an argument escalated into a physical fight. A neighbour said they were told Mandim had placed the younger man in a chokehold, prompting him to grab a nearby knife to defend himself.
Mother witnessed attack
Ivan's mother witnessed the fatal stabbing and will be a key witness for the Judiciary Police, who have taken over the murder investigation.
His sister was at work when the attack occurred. Police contacted her at around 2 am to ask if she knew her brother's whereabouts, and she returned home to learn of the stabbing from their mother.
Neighbours said the family's arguments were well known in the building. Residents said the mother and Mandim had been together for about a year in a toxic relationship that the 20-year-old did not accept.
History of disputes
One neighbour said the suspect had never recovered from the death of his biological father several years ago, and that the situation worsened when he saw how his mother was being treated. Another resident said Mandim had previously threatened to throw himself from the apartment balcony to get what he wanted.
A visibly shocked resident described the suspect as a calm and quiet young man who stayed out of trouble, adding that they believed no neighbour had a bad word to say about him.
The 20-year-old also told police where to find the murder weapon when he surrendered. He is due to appear before a criminal instruction judge at the Maia Court for his first judicial interrogation, where restrictive measures will be applied.
