UPDATE: Man jailed for life for revenge attack killing

UPDATE: A man has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years after murdering another man in a revenge attack.

Rudi Elton Viegas Cardoso, 32, stabbed Paulo Dasilva, 49, several times during the attack in Oldham, Greater Manchester, earlier this year.

On 28 May 2022, Paulo Dasilva was with his brother in Kilombo Restaurant on Union Street in Oldham. Around 4am Mr Dasilva went outside alone to smoke where he was approached by Viegas Cardoso. 

Witnesses describe a short conversation between the two before Viegas Cardoso was seen to produce a large knife and stab Mr Dasilva repeatedly. Viegas Cardoso then left the area in his vehicle.

The prosecution case was that the stabbing was a revenge attack following ongoing issues between the pair since April when an argument escalated into a fight, and Viegas Cardoso received a cut to his eyebrow.

CCTV showed that around 4am Viegas Cardoso briefly entered the Kilombo restaurant, before returning to his car where he retrieved a knife and donned a hooded top, in an attempt to disguise his appearance. He then stabbed Mr Dasilva several times in the upper chest area and left him bleeding profusely. 

Despite the best efforts of paramedics at the scene and hospital staff at the Royal Oldham Hospital, Mr Dasilva was pronounced dead at 5.30am that day.

The pathologist confirmed that the 49-year-old had four wounds in his upper chest, a wound in his neck and in his forearm, along with other minor injuries. He explained that the main wound to the chest, which cut through a rib and penetrated the lung, would have required severe force being applied to inflict that injury.

Viegas Cardoso was identified from CCTV footage and later arrested in Suffolk. He made no comment in interview and went on to plead not guilty at court, claiming self-defence and diminished responsibility.

Following a trial which concluded today (6 December) at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, the jury found Viegas Cardoso guilty of murder. 

Darren Smith, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: "Rudi Elton Viegas Cardoso carried out a vicious and violent attack on Mr Dasilva, who had no chance to defend himself.

"Viegas Cardoso then attempted to disguise himself and left the Greater Manchester area in an attempt to evade arrest. 

"The Crown Prosecution Service worked with Greater Manchester Police to build a strong case against him, including CCTV footage, phone location data and forensic evidence. 

"Nothing can make up for the loss of Paulo Dasilva. I can only hope that his family and friends can find some comfort in knowing the man responsible has been brought to justice; my thoughts remain with them at this time."