Duarte Lima silent on the first day of trial and court could not locate witness

On the first day of the trial, former PSD deputy Duarte Lima, accused of murdering Rosalina Ribeiro in 2009, refused to testify. The court was unable to locate a key witness, Rosemary Espinola, raising concerns about her status. Lima's lawyer argued that the case has been prejudged in public opinion. The murder, linked to a €5.2 million transfer, allegedly occurred after Ribeiro refused to sign a document regarding the funds. Lima claims the money was for services rendered, a narrative disputed by Ribeiro's family. The trial has faced multiple delays due to witness notification issues and missing recordings.