I'm now wondering if she was beaten earlier...
My understanding of Portuguese is fairly basic, I'm afraid, so I can't attempt a word-perfect translation. I'm just trying to get the gist of it. If there's anything important of substance that I've misunderstood, let me know and I'll correct it.
Here's why:
From Leandro's statement (SC):
Declarou ainda a testemunha que numa altura em que se encontrou com a arguida BB nas instalações da Polícia Judiciária, a pedido daquela Polícia, mas numa altura em que se encontravam só os dois, a testemunha perguntou à BB o que tinha acontecido e ela então contou-lhe que "tinha dado uma chapada na CC e que o irmão acabou de a matar", tudo "porque ela os tinha visto a ter relações" e também contou que "tinham posto o corpo numa casa velha e que tinha sido o AA a levá-la às costas". Posteriormente, quando a testemunha foi visitar a arguida BB à cadeia de Odemira, ela negou o que tinha dito e referiu-lhe que só tinha afirmado aquelas coisas porque a Polícia Judiciária lhe tinha batido. Questionado sobre se no dia em que a BB lhe tinha confessado ter agredido CC, a mesma apresentava marcas de ter sido batida, nomeadamente se tinha a cara ou os olhos inchados ou vermelhos, a testemunha disse que não.
Googlegibberish:
The witness also stated that at a time when he met the defendant BB premises of the Judicial Police, the Police claim that, but at a time when they were only two, the witness asked BB what had happened and she then told him that he had "given a slap on the CC and the brother just to kill" all "because she had seen them having s.e.x" and also told that "they had put the body in an old house and had been to AA take her back. "Later, when the witness was visiting the defendant to the Beja BB chain, she denied what he had said and mentioned to him that he had only said those things because the judiciary police had beaten him. Asked if the day that BB had confessed to assaulting her CC, it showed signs of having been beaten, especially if he had to face or swollen or red eyes, the witness said no.
For what it's worth, my understanding is that the PJ asked Leandro to go to the PJ station to talk to Leonor. When they were apparently alone (hmmm), she'd said that she'd whacked [agredida] Joana and João ended up killing her, because they been having sex and said they put the body in an old house and that it was João who (something, not sure what that bit means, took her there?). On a later date, when he went to visit her at Odemira prison, she denied what she'd said and said that she only said those things because they'd beaten her. Asked whether Leonor showed signs of having been beaten, in particular whether her face or eyes were puffed up or red on the day Leonor had confessed to having whacked Joana, he said no.
What's not clear to me is when he was told to see her at the PJ (whether it was back in September, or October). If it was back in September, at the time of the "confession", there's the possibility that she confessed as a result of perfectly legitimate police questioning techniques
or she could well have been beaten, but not around the face at that time.
So, I don't know...
But then, there is an in-depth interview with Leandro to mark the 2nd anniversary of Joana's disappearance Caso Joana - 12.09.06 Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find a reasonable translation of it.
http://www.algarvepress.net/conteudo.php?menu=-1&cat=Regional&scat=Reportagem&id=136An extract:
L.S. – Acho que os homens da Judiciária de Portimão não eram agressivos. Sabiam conversar connosco e tentavam, pelo menos, descobrir alguma coisa. Enquanto isso, os de Faro logo no primeiro dia que nos vieram buscar, foi logo para nos bater quando lá chegámos. Primeiro era porrada, depois é que faziam as perguntas. Acho que se a PJ de Portimão tivesse continuado com a investigação, se calhar tinham sacado alguma coisa de algum lado.
(...)
A.P. – Qual foi o momento mais difícil?
L.S. – Devem ter sido os castigos que levei na Judiciária, onde me chamaram tudo e mais alguma coisa. E fui agredido sempre que lá me levaram. Mas com as porradas aguento bem. Cá fora, o pior foi a gente passar na rua e ouvir as pessoas a insultar-nos. Cada um diz aquilo que quer e a gente não pode responder. Até evitei ir a certos cafés. Mas hoje, já entro em todos. Já não ouço nada. Agora, toda a gente me cumprimenta e fala bem tanto na Figueira, como na Mexilhoeira-Grande, onde vivo. Mas mesmo quando vou a Portimão ou outros sítios, não sinto qualquer problema.
Googlegibberish:
L. S. - I think men Judiciary Portimão were not aggressive . Knew and tried to talk with us at least learn something . Meanwhile, the Faro on the first day they came for us, was soon to hit us when we got there . First it was beating then is that the questions were . I think the PJ of Portimão had continued to research, maybe had drawn something from somewhere.
( ... )
P.W - What was the most difficult moment ?
L. S. - It must have been the punishment they took in Judicial , where they called me everything and anything . And I was always beaten that led me there . But with the punches and take it .
L. S. -Outside, the worst was we pass on the street and hear people insult us . Each one says what you want and we can not answer . Even avoided going to certain cafes . But today , as I enter in all . Have not heard anything. Now , everyone greets me and speaks well both in Figueira , as Mexilhoeira - Grande , where I live . But even when I go to Portimao or elsewhere , do not feel any problem.
My own attempt at making sense of this:
Leandro didn't think that the Portimão PJ team was aggressive. Trying to work out the gist is that they were questioning people normally and trying to figure out what had happened. He felt that if that team had carried on investigating, the case might have got somewhere. My impression is that he was quite positive about that team.
Then, he says that the Faro team was quite different. The PJ shouted abuse (including to himself) and "we" (whoever that refers to) were punched/beaten first, then questioned afterwards. He says he was whacked (?) [agredido] every time he was taken to the station.
This interview was in 2006,
after she'd received a reduced sentence.
In that same interview, my understanding is that he wouldn't have put it past João to have sold her, but still thinks she was abducted.
