The mother of a 13-year-old British boy murdered in Portugal has spoken of her shattered heart, describing the attacker as a 'monster'. Alfie Hallett was fatally stabbed at his home near the city of Tomar on December 23rd.
A Mother's Unimaginable Grief
Alfie's mother, Rachel Reeves, 43, said her world ended when her son was taken from her. In a moving tribute, she expressed her profound loss and wished she had died alongside him in the attack, which also ended with the perpetrator's suicide.
"He was taken from me so unfairly and cruelly by that monster – too soon, when he still had so much to live for," Ms Reeves wrote. "I miss him so much that it hurts to breathe. I wish he had taken me too, because my world ended the day I lost him. My heart is broken, shattered."
She added a poignant hope that her son always knew how deeply he was loved, stating he was her "reason for living".
Details of the Tragic Attack
The attacker, named as Goncalo Carvalho, a 43-year-old shop worker, used a knife to harm Alfie before turning on Ms Reeves. He then barricaded himself inside their home and ignited gas, causing an explosion before emergency services could arrive. Carvalho died at the scene.
It has since emerged that Carvalho had a violent past, having previously served a prison sentence for stabbing a man in a park. He had been released early due to good behaviour. Although Ms Reeves and Carvalho had separated, locals reported seeing them together in the weeks before the attack, including at a local supermarket.
Community Support and Tributes
In the wake of the tragedy, friends of the grieving mother have set up a fundraiser, which has surpassed €5,000. The organiser, Janine de Boos, explained the funds are intended to cover funeral costs and provide Rachel with some respite as she deals with the devastation.
"Having raised Alfie alone, both emotionally and financially, Rachel has worked hard to provide for her only son," Ms de Boos wrote. Another friend, James McDowell, shared the fundraiser, describing Alfie as a "shining light" and stating the family had created a lovely life in Portugal, which was meant to be their "happy ever after".
Alfie, remembered as a keen basketball player, had participated in a match just four days before his death. The Santarem Basketball Association paid tribute, expressing deep sorrow and sending condolences to his family, friends, and teammates.
His grandmother, Linda, based in the UK, believes the teenager died trying to protect his mother. She fondly recalled him as a "jolly little soul who loved to sing and dance" and a "lovely, gentle boy with a heart of gold".
