The family of a 13-year-old British boy who was fatally stabbed at his home in Portugal have described him as a 'happy young man' with a 'heart of gold'. Alfie Hallett was killed in a violent incident at the family residence in Casais, near Tomar, on Tuesday.
A violent attack and explosion
Alfie was found dead after his mother's ex-partner allegedly attacked him with a knife. The suspect has been identified by police as 45-year-old Goncalo Carvalho, a shop worker who was released from prison early for good behaviour. He had served nearly 15 years for a previous stabbing offence.
Portuguese police reports state that after stabbing Alfie and assaulting his mother, Carvalho barricaded himself inside the home and turned on the gas. This caused an explosion moments after officers from the GNR (National Republican Guard) arrived at the scene, injuring one policeman.
Alfie's mother, who had been assaulted and tied up, managed to free herself and alert neighbours before being taken to hospital for treatment.
Tributes to a 'jolly little soul'
Alfie's uncle, Kieron Reeves, paid an emotional tribute to his 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.’
His grandmother recalled that the last time she saw Alfie was around Christmas in 2018. ‘Looking back, he was so happy then,' she said. '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.’
A history of domestic violence flags
Police confirmed that the family had been flagged following domestic violence cases registered in 2022 and 2023. They added that ‘the alleged perpetrator had already served a prison sentence for aggravated homicide.’
An autopsy is expected to determine whether Alfie died from the stab wounds or as a result of the subsequent explosion. The police statement noted that both the suspect and the boy had 'several injuries caused by a bladed weapon' and that Alfie was declared dead at the scene.
The local basketball community, where Alfie was a player for the Sub-14 team of SCOCS, also expressed profound sorrow. His coach, Ana Bengala, said the sports community was 'deeply shaken' by the loss of a 'cherished member'. The Santarem Basketball Association sent its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and teammates.
