The heartbroken grandmother of a 13-year-old British boy stabbed to death in Portugal has paid tribute to her 'lovely, gentle' grandson, revealing she believes he died trying to protect his mother from a violent attack.
A Family's Unimaginable Loss
Alfie Hallett, who was born in Brighton and grew up in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, was murdered yesterday in the family apartment near the Portuguese city of Tomar. The alleged attacker was his mother's former partner, named locally as Goncalo Carvalho.
Carvalho, who had previously served a prison sentence for an aggravated homicide after stabbing another man 35 times, was killed in a gas explosion at the property as police moved in to arrest him. Alfie's mother was found badly beaten and tied up, but was rescued by neighbours and taken to hospital.
A Life Cut Short: Alfie's Story
Speaking from her home in Bognor Regis, grandmother Linda Hallett described the moment she received the devastating news. "I got a call at 9.30am this morning from my daughter. I was completely shocked, devastated," she said. "I believe Alfie died trying to protect his mother."
She remembered Alfie as a "jolly little soul who loved to sing and dance" and a "lovely, gentle boy with a heart of gold". Alfie had moved to Tomar, in central Portugal, in 2016 with his mother after she met a Portuguese man. His parents, Mark Hallett and Alfie's mother, had divorced when he was very young.
The grandmother last saw her grandson when he returned to the UK for Christmas in December 2018, a visit arranged after his father, Mark, discovered their whereabouts and obtained court permission for contact. "It was so wonderful seeing Alfie again," Mrs Hallett recalled. "He was so pleased to see his dad and to meet his baby brother Rocco for the first time."
A History of Violence and Missed Warnings
Tragically, both Alfie and his mother were known to Portuguese authorities. The teenager had bravely filed complaints about domestic violence between 2022 and 2023. His mother had also reported Carvalho, who neighbours described as 'obsessive', often sleeping in his car outside their home in the village of Casais.
Local parish council leader Luis Freire confirmed: "There had been a number of violent episodes between the couple and I think the GNR police force was aware of that. This time round the outcome was a very bad one."
According to the Policia Judiciaria, Carvalho had already served a 14-year prison sentence for homicide, released early for good behaviour around a decade ago. During the police response to the emergency, a gas explosion ripped through the flat, killing Carvalho and injuring an officer. He was later found with what are believed to be self-inflicted knife wounds.
The tragedy is compounded by further family sorrow. Alfie's father, Mark, who had a history of heart problems, died last February after contracting sepsis. "I like to think Mark and Alfie are reunited again somewhere," Mrs Hallett said. "But I'm kind of glad that my son wasn't around when Alfie died. I think he would've found the heartache unbearable."
A Community in Mourning
Emotional tributes have poured in for Alfie, who was a keen basketball player. His club, Sport Club Operario Cem Soldos (SCOCS), posted a message saying: "SCOCS BASKETBALL has just become poorer today!!! Our athlete Alfie passed away today at the age of 13."
Trainer Ana Bengala said the sports community was "deeply shaken", describing Alfie as "a cherished member of the sports family" who had "left an indelible mark on all who interacted with him".
For Linda Hallett, the memories of a happy Christmas in 2018 now provide bittersweet comfort. "We had a lovely Christmas dinner all together," she remembered. "Alfie told me about how his mum was and how Portugal was... But I could tell that he was a little homesick too. He would often say he missed living in England."
As the investigations in Portugal continue, a family in West Sussex is left grappling with an unbearable loss, their grief echoing in communities on both sides of the Channel.
