What happened
Gisberta Salce, a homeless transgender woman from Brazil living in Porto, died after prolonged violence by a group of youths in 2006.
The investigation
The investigation documented repeated assaults and the circumstances in which she was abandoned. Because many offenders were minors, proceedings took place under Portugal’s juvenile justice framework.
What the courts or investigators concluded
Members of the group were found responsible and received educational or custodial measures available for juvenile offenders.
Why the case remains significant
Gisberta’s death became a landmark in Portuguese and European discussions of anti-trans violence, homelessness and the vulnerability created by social exclusion.
Case context
Crime by Region organizes cases geographically so readers can move from one file to other investigations from the same country. For unresolved or contested cases, the wording above reflects the distinction between confirmed events, investigative theories and findings actually established in court.