Around thirty stab wounds, around ten causing fatal injuries. On February 7, 2021, Missiri impasse in Fréjus, the altercation between Iraida and Joao Lourenco ended in a pool of blood. And with the death of the 43-year-old mother, under the helpless eyes of her eldest son (read our previous editions).
A tragedy that occurred after an argument starting from… a misplaced bottle of olive oil and which Joao Lourenco still assures today that he did not wish for the fatal outcome. Despite the multiplicity of blows and the vital areas affected. Despite the lack of proportionality between this slap delivered by the victim and the means of defense used, namely two kitchen knives.
“I lost control”
However, as during his custody, as during his hearings before the investigating judge, the retiree, now 74 years old, assured this Monday before the Var Assize Court where he is being tried for spousal murder “didn’t mean to kill her”. “I lost control, he continues. I am not crazy. But Iraida had already attacked me in the past. It all came back to me at that moment. If Leandro (first name has been changed) Hadn’t touched my chest, maybe I would have continued [à la poignarder].”
“Back to reality” When his stepson, aged 12, intervened, Joao then fled through the window of the apartment before being calmly arrested a few minutes later by neighbors.
“He gives no explanation for his action, notes expert psychiatrist Serge Suissa. He evokes a black-outbut is aware of the impact of his gesture.”
A slap as a “trigger”
According to the expert, the slap received in front of his children was “the trigger”. “Even his father had never hit him in the face, continues the psychiatrist. It was a real humiliation for him.” One more, after learning the day before that Iraida, 27 years his junior, was having an extramarital affair and that she was planning to divorce. “He was having a hard time with the separation because he was afraid of not seeing his son anymore.” This one, then six years old, was “his jewel”. His only son, after six daughters born to three different mothers.
“In the culture of Sao Tome and Principe, where he comes from, it is customary to have a wife still of childbearing age, enlightens the psychiatrist. Moreover, he told us that at the time of the events, he was planning to start a new life with a young woman of 34, whom he met on the island.”
Regular arguments
Before that, he had to separate from Iraida, with whom relations have never been peaceful. “Their quarrels are not new, notes the director of investigation. Moreover, our services had intervened twice at their home, in 2018 and in 2020, for domestic violence. Each time, it was the gentleman who was the victim.”
In August 2020, Joao Lourenco was granted three days of ITT after receiving a drink in the face. Unless it was a stab wound, as his son had once suggested to investigators? In any case, no complaint had been filed.
And it was, he said, for fear of seeing Iraida grab a glass again to throw in his face as she was heading towards the kitchen that he threw himself at her this Sunday, February 7, 2021 . With a knife in each hand.
