Mother of student killed in Portuguese hazing ritual faces trial for "defamation"

The mother of a student who died in 2001 as the victim of a hazing ritual, or "praxis" as it is known here, at a university in northern Portugal, will face a trial Monday for defamation, local media reported.

According to newspaper Publico, the mother, Maria de Fatima Macedo, was accused of crimes of defamation, after she named the suspects of committing homicide on national television stations in 2014.

Fatima Macedo, whose son was killed almost 15 years ago at the University Lusiada de Familicao, around 350 km from Lisbon, risks facing up to two years in prison and a fine of 120,000 euros in compensation following an accusation filed by Olavo Almeida, now 39, a defendant in the investigation, which was later shelved, according to local media.

Her lawyers defend that she named the suspects of the death of her son publicly as a result of her "more than justified anger," according to Publico.

The civil court of Familicao forced the University Lusiada de Familicao to pay the mother of the victim 90,000 euros in compensation in 2009.

The risks of hazing rituals in Portugal made international headlines in 2014 after six students drowned in the sea at Meco beach, around 40 km from Lisbon. Endit