News of the preliminary autopsy results pointing towards asphyxia was confirmed by a PJ police source on Wednesday.
The Oxford Dictionary of English defines the term ‘asphyxia’ as a “condition arising when the body is deprived of oxygen, causing unconsciousness or death.”
Police are awaiting the results of a formal autopsy report and, as with any case involving a ‘violent’ death, are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the burglar’s death.
It will then be up to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to decide whether or not to press charges.
Also on Wednesday a statement sent to The Portugal News from the Attorney General’s Office, under which the Public Prosecution Service operates, confirmed two people have been made defendants in the ongoing investigation, but did not specify whom.
In its statement the Public Prosecution Service said it has “opened an Inquiry, in the scope of which two people have acquired the status of defendant.
“These two people have further been imposed the restraining measure of ‘Statement of Identity and Residence’ (Termo de identidade e residência).”
It explained that “the Portuguese legal system provides for the opening of a criminal inquiry whenever an act likely to correspond to a criminal offence is reported. Any subsequent steps in view of the determination of the truth and of the identification of the offenders are taken within the said inquiry.”
Known offender and convict Paulo Brito reportedly collapsed and died as GNR officers went to handcuff him after being immobilised at the family villa by long-term British expat Trevor Taylor, 60, and his son Scott, 31, who was visiting Portugal.
The Taylors restrained the intruder after finding and confronting him in the villa during the early hours of Sunday morning, while mother and wife Jill Scott, 61, called the police.
The family is said to be in shock after what happened and as yet no charges have been brought against them.
They are understood to have been contacted by police but no other restrictions have been placed on their movements with the exception of the Termo de identidade e residência and having to inform authorities if they intend to leave the country or move house.
A Q&A piece by a university professor in newspaper Correio da Manhã explained that, should the general assumption that the Taylors were acting in self-defence be corroborated, prosecutors are only likely to come into play should the degree of self-defence be deemed by the Public Prosecutor as excessive or disproportional to the force required by the situation. But, according to other observers, even then, responsibilities could be diminished.
Paulo Brito, 35, had a record for theft and robbery and, according to newspaper Correio da Manhã, had only been released from prison around two months prior to his death following an eight-year sentence.
A decision is expected in coming weeks.