Horrific details have emerged of a brutal attack in Portugal that left a 13-year-old British boy dead and his mother fighting for her life, after her violent ex-partner – a convicted murderer – launched a frenzied assault before triggering a gas explosion.
A Community in Mourning for Young Alfie
The victim has been named as Alfie Hallet, a teenager who had been living with his 43-year-old British mother in the village of Casais, near Tomar, roughly 90 minutes north-east of Lisbon. Tributes have poured in for the young basketball enthusiast, whose club described him playing "so well" in his final match on Saturday that it "seemed like he knew it was his last game."
Police believe the tragedy, which unfolded on Tuesday, 23rd December, was a murder-suicide. According to authorities, Alfie's mother was first assaulted inside their home. She was then bound by her hands and feet before her son was stabbed to death. The suspect, named locally as 43-year-old Goncalo Carvalho, then used the same knife to inflict serious injuries upon himself.
Ex-Convict with a Violent Past
The suspect's history reveals a chilling backdrop to the attack. Goncalo Carvalho was a convicted killer, having been sentenced for murder at the age of 19 after stabbing another man 35 times in a park. He served nearly 15 years in prison before being released early for good behaviour around a decade ago.
Neighbours reported that Alfie's mother had previously reported Carvalho for domestic violence and described his behaviour as "obsessive." He was known to sleep in his car outside her home in attempts to control her, and locals admitted they had long feared violence would erupt. "The only thing we thought was ‘one of these days something is going to happen’ because the suspect is not a good guy," said neighbour Jaime Lopes, who helped the injured mother.
Explosion Adds to the Carnage
As emergency responders from the GNR police force arrived at the scene just after midday following a domestic violence alert, Carvalho barricaded himself inside the property. Moments later, he deliberately caused a gas explosion, which injured one police officer. The strong smell of gas had been detected by officers before the blast.
Alfie's mother managed to free herself and flee to neighbours for help. Mr Lopes described finding her "very scared, very badly beaten on her face. It seemed to me that even her teeth were broken. She had a lot of blood on her hands and plastic ties around them and on her ankles." She remains in hospital receiving treatment.
Both Alfie and Carvalho were found with multiple stab wounds. Despite initial signs of life, both were pronounced dead at the scene. Portugal's Policia Judiciaria confirmed the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023.
The tragedy has sparked outrage and profound sadness, with local parish leader Luis Freire stating the police were aware of previous violent episodes between the couple. Online, well-wishers shared messages of sympathy for Alfie's mother, while others questioned how a man with such a violent history could have been free to commit such an atrocity. The basketball community in Tomar is united in grief for a young life tragically and violently cut short.
