Family of British boy, 13, stabbed to death in Portugal say he was a ‘happy young man’

A boy who was stabbed to death at his home in Portugal was a ‘good happy young man’, his uncle has said.

Alfie Hallett was found dead at his family’s home in Casais, near the city of Tomar, around 90 minutes from the capital Lisbon, on Tuesday after his mother’s ex partner allegedly attacked him.

Police have identified 45-year-old Goncalo Carvalho, who was released from prison early for good behaviour after serving nearly 15 years for stabbing, as the suspect in the attack.

Carvalho, a shop worker, is believed to have stabbed Alfie with a knife before attacking his mother.

Police believe Carvalho then barricaded himself inside the home and turned on the gas to cause an explosion.

Alfie’s mum, who was assaulted and before having her hands and feet tied up, was taken to hospital after managing to free herself and alert neighbours.

Now Alfie’s uncle, Kieron Reeves, has paid tribute to his 13-year-old nephew.

He told Metro: ‘He was such a good happy young man, he always showed love and patience and this was shown in everything he did.’

Police reports say the GNR (National Republican Guard) were called to the scene after receiving reports of a domestic violence incident.

‘Both the alleged assailant and the minor presented several injuries caused by a bladed weapon but, despite vital signs still being detectable, death was declared at the scene moments later’, it said in a statement.

The home was found to contain a strong smell of gas which ignited in an explosion moments later, injuring an officer.

An autopsy is expected to confirm whether the boy lost his life from stabbing or via the blast.

Police added that ‘the alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide, and the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023’.

Yesterday, Alfie’s grandmother said how his mother and father had split when Alfie was very young and she then met Paulo, a Portuguese man who was living in the UK. They left soon afterwards to go and live in Tomar.

She added the last time she saw her grandson was around Christmas in 2018, when his father brought him to spend the holidays in the UK with his younger brother Rocco.

She said: ‘Looking back, he was so happy then. He really was a jolly little soul who loved to sing and dance.

‘He was such a lovely, gentle boy with a heart of gold.’

Alfie’s basketball coach also paid tribute to him.

Ana Bengala said: ‘The sports community was deeply shaken by the tragic death of a 13-year-old athlete from the Sub-14 Basketball team of SCOCS, a victim of an act of violence deemed utterly incomprehensible.’

She added that Alfie was a ‘cherished member of the sports family’ and had left an ‘indelible mark’.

The regional Santarem Basketball Association added: ‘We express our deep sorrow over the death of athlete Alfie Hallett.

‘To the family, friends, teammates and the entire basketball community, the Santarem Basketball Association sends its deepest condolences.’

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