A former reality television star has been sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for attempting to kill his five-year-aged son. The case, which has drawn attention to domestic violence and parental abuse, unfolded in Quinta do Conde, Sesimbra, Portugal.
Nuno da Silva, who appeared on the TVI present “Love on Top” in 2017, drugged the child with an unspecified number of pills, covered his mouth and nose with a cloth soaked in ether, and then doused him with gasoline, according to reports from Jornal de Notícias. The incident occurred while the child was sleeping.
The Tribunal de Setúbal found da Silva guilty of attempted homicide and domestic violence against both of his children. The sentence was delivered on Thursday, March 19, 2026, by Judge Maria Isabel Gomes, as reported by A Televisão.
Da Silva was reportedly visibly upset during the sentencing, which was conducted via teleconference from prison, but did not speak. The court dismissed arguments suggesting a possible mental health crisis at the time of the attack, according to Jornal de Notícias.
Authorities began investigating the case after the October 14, 2024, incident. Da Silva had been in pre-trial detention since October 16, 2024, as detailed in a report by MAGG. He also faces charges of resisting and coercing GNR (Portugal’s national republican guard) officers during his arrest.
The attempted homicide was formally charged on April 16, 2025, and included accusations of domestic violence spanning from 2020 to 2024 involving both of his children, MAGG reported.
The case underscores the severity of domestic violence and the potential for tragic consequences when children are involved.
