Teenager who killed stepfather to be sentenced tomorrow

A teenager convicted of stabbing his mother’s partner with a boning knife last year will be sentenced tomorrow morning at the Central Criminal Court.

Andre Bastos (aged 18) was found guilty last week of the manslaughter of Claudio Fernandes (aged 33) on the main street in Duleek, Co Meath, on July 29 last year. He was found not guilty of murder.

Today, garda John Daly of Navan garda station told the court that Bastos arrived in Ireland from Brazil in January 2007, was living in a mobile home in Bettystown, Co Meath, with his mother, and worked in a local meat factory.

His mother Maura and Mr Fernandes also worked there.

On the night of the killing, Bastos and Mr Fernandes were in a pub in Duleek where Bastos was verbally abused by his mother’s partner. Bastos left the pub and went to a nearby house where other Brazilians were living.

He had disconnected a lead to the battery of Mr Fernandes’ car so he would not drive home without him.

Mr Fernandes arrived at the house and a row began with Bastos in relation to the car's not starting.

Bastos returned to the house and got a knife from the kitchen, concealed it in his pocket and returned outside.

He told gardaí his stepfather started chasing him again, was calling him names and then approached him and stood close to him.

For a couple of minutes the two were approximately two feet apart. Then he said Mr Fernandes went to punch him, that he was scared and that he stabbed him.

He told gardaí that he regretted what he did.

At the time of the stabbing, he was thinking about how the dead man would beat his mother, he said.

The court heard that there was a history of domestic violence by Mr Fernandes against Bastos and particularly against his mother. It was suggested that Mr Fernandes was prone to violent temper when drinking.

Bastos is the father of a 15-month old baby and has no previous convictions.

Mr Justice Paul Carney will pass sentence tomorrow morning.