A British man is on trial in Lisbon, Portugal, accused of fatally stabbing a 19-year-old local man in October 2023. The case has drawn attention to issues of violence against tourists and the challenges of international investigations.
Daniel Dunbar, a 29-year-old bank employee, began his trial Wednesday at the Lisbon court, facing charges of aggravated homicide in the death of Daniel Galhanas. According to reports, Galhanas was stabbed in the neck with a broken bottle in the Bairro Alto district.
Dunbar and a group of five friends were allegedly targeted with bottles thrown by a group that included the victim, he told the court. He claimed he acted in self-defense, stating he attacked to protect a friend who had been hit in the head with a bottle.
Following the incident, Dunbar left Portugal and was later arrested months after the crime. He admitted in court that leaving the country was “immature,” but maintained he was defending his friends. According to reports, Dunbar said he felt he had to leave.
The incident occurred just hours after Dunbar arrived in Lisbon. Initial reports indicated the stabbing took place in the popular Bairro Alto nightlife area. Court documents detail the circumstances surrounding the altercation.
The trial is ongoing, and the outcome could have implications for how Portugal handles similar cases involving foreign nationals.
