Goemkapronn desk
VASCO: In a significant breakthrough, Verna police successfully solved the murder case of Lionel Lobo, leading to the arrest of Alex Coutinho, 34, a resident of Cortalim. The arrest was confirmed by SP Sunita Sawant during a press briefing on Wednesday.
“We were informed about the murder of Lionel Lobo, 32, at an under-construction site along the highway at Cortalim on Tuesday evening. The house owner reported the incident, and our team rushed to the spot to begin the investigation. The body was found with severe head injuries, and we concluded that a cement block lying next to the deceased was used to smash his head,” said Sawant.
The incident reportedly stemmed from a petty argument over a bottle of alcohol. According to Sawant, “The accused, Alex Coutinho, and the victim were friends. They had been drinking together at the same site a few days ago. After they finished, the victim took the bottle with some alcohol remaining. Coutinho harbored a grudge and waited to take revenge. Finding the victim in an inebriated state, he committed the crime.”
Sawant noted that the crime scene initially perplexed investigators. “It was a challenging case due to misleading information. Coutinho was present during our initial investigation and attempted to divert attention to other potential suspects. His deception only raised our suspicions. Through meticulous investigation and evidence gathering, we established a clear link between Coutinho and the murder weapon,” she explained.
The arrest of Coutinho has sent shockwaves through Vasco, where the victim, the son of well-known social activist Leonard Lobo, was well-known.
“It’s heartbreaking to see a life lost over something as trivial as a bottle of alcohol. We hope justice will be served,” expressed a netizen on social media.
Further investigations are underway to uncover more details surrounding the case.
