Analysis of the testimonial evidence of Portugal's first major forensic case: part II

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2020

Authors

Ricardo Jorge Dinis Oliveira (Author) FMUP

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: FORENSIC SCIENCES RESEARCH

Vol. 5

Pages: 266-285

ISSN: 2096-1790

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 1 Citation

Scopus - 1 Citation

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00R-C4G

DOI: 10.1080/20961790.2019.1682218

Abstract (EN): The crime possibly perpetrated by a doctor named Vicente Urbino de Freitas in 1890 is one of the most famous cases of poisoning, and it had echoes in the Portuguese and foreign press for several decades. This prestigious doctor was convicted of the fatal poisoning of his nephew. He also attempted the homicide of two nieces and their mother-in-law, who only escaped because they obstinately refused to comply with the "therapeutics" prescribed by the family doctor. The motive of the crime should have been Vicente Urbino de Freitas' ambition to receive the family inheritance of his wife, the daughter of the well-known merchant Jose Antonio Sampaio of Flores Street in Porto. Vicente Urbino de Freitas was convicted but doubt about his guilt persists for more than a century. This second work aimed to collect and analyse all the relevant and contradictory testimonial evidence of the prosecution and defence witnesses. This case represents an odd historical record obtained through more than 12years of research on the first major significant Portuguese forensic case. Rare and unprecedented testimonial evidence and photographs were obtained from different countries and then repaired, since these also provide an important historical record of the medical photography.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 20