Comandos trial: Court revises temperature data and 'zero test' interruption facts

A Portuguese court has revised its factual findings in one of the country's most scrutinized military trials—the case surrounding the deaths of two young recruits during a Comandos training exercise five years ago. On Tuesday, the judges notified all parties through the court's electronic system that they were altering key facts from the prosecution's original accusations, including precise temperature readings from the day and the sequence of events that led to the suspension of the training.

Dylan da Silva and Hugo Abreu, both twenty years old, died on September 4, 2016, during what is known as the "zero proof"—the first test in the elite Comandos course, held in Alcochete near Lisbon. The heat that day was severe. According to the court's revised findings, the meteorological station at Pegões recorded an average temperature of 40.2 degrees Celsius, with highs of 40.9 and lows of 39.1. At Coruche, the readings were slightly lower but still extreme: 38.3 average, 39.6 maximum, 37.5 minimum. Beyond the temperature itself, the court found that trainees were rationing water, pushing through demanding combat instruction exercises, and showing signs of profound exhaustion and dehydration. Several recruits had already been moved to the medical tent, including one named Ailton Spínola, who required intravenous fluids.

The revised facts paint a picture of escalating concern among those running the exercise. Lieutenant Colonel Mário Maia, who directed the training, noticed that a large number of recruits from two groups were struggling to complete their assigned tasks. He called over the medical officer, Miguel Domingues, who assessed the situation and determined that at least one trainee needed immediate care. Later, after lunch, Maia telephoned the Comandos Regiment commander, Dores Moreira, to alert him to the dangerous heat. Moreira suggested altering the schedule for the following day. The court's revised account emphasizes that the decision to halt the exercise came only after Maia consulted both Domingues and another officer named Rui Monteiro—the doctor reported he had multiple trainees in the medical tent and lacked resources to support further instruction, while Monteiro advised against continuing given the demands of the planned exercises.

The trial involves nineteen defendants—eight officers, eight sergeants, and three enlisted men, most of them instructors. The prosecution has sought prison sentences ranging from two to ten years for five of them, charging them with abuse of authority resulting in serious physical harm. The accusation states they acted with "manifest disregard for the grave consequences" they inflicted. Beyond the two deaths, multiple other recruits suffered serious injuries and required hospitalization.

Alexandre Lafayette, the defense attorney for Maia and sergeant-instructor Ricardo Rodrigues, told reporters that the court's revisions are favorable to his clients and that he will not request additional evidence or further proceedings. He emphasized that the revised facts support the actions his clients took, particularly Maia's intervention to stop the exercise. The attorney representing the families of the two dead recruits, Ricardo Sá Fernandes, has not yet commented publicly on the changes.

The court's decision to revise these facts came after technical recording problems forced a postponement of the verdict reading on Monday. Before adjourning, the judges informed all parties that they intended to communicate the factual amendments and asked whether they could do so electronically. No one objected. Now, all parties have ten days to respond and indicate whether they wish to request additional evidence or procedural steps. The verdict itself remains pending, and the revisions suggest the court's understanding of what happened that day—and who bears responsibility—may differ in important ways from what the prosecution originally alleged.