The socialite's lawyer explained the reasons for the controversial trip to New York.
José Castelo Branco's trip to the United States of America continues to give a lot to talk about. After news emerged that the socialite violated the restraining order by traveling to New York, his personal lawyer, Pedro Nogueira Simões, came forward to give a statement.
Pedro Simões explained in statements to the program 'V+ Fama' that his client will not have violated the coercive measures, since there was a ruling from the Court of Sintra, last week, which said that "the defendant was not prohibited from leaving the country".
"After a reassessment of the situation, a new ruling was issued revoking the previous one, rejecting the request to leave the country," the Superior Council of the Judiciary explained in statements to SIC.
The lawyer argues that Castelo Branco "always respected all judicial measures and only left when he was allowed to", and is therefore not breaking the law.
Regarding the purpose of this trip, Pedro Simões explains that José Castelo Branco traveled to "deal with matters related to his home".
"He tried to go to the [family] home and when he was prevented from doing so he decided to call the police," he said, explaining that it was the art dealer who called the authorities after arriving at the scene and realizing that the "lock had been changed, which The apartment had been transferred and his belongings were no longer inside the apartment."
"He was the one who called the police," confirmed Antonio Leal e Silva, who says he has sources close to the socialite.
"He was unable to enter there [the house where he lived in New York with his ex-wife] and he reported this to the authorities," the lawyer reinforced, explaining that there is now "a legal process" underway in the US.
"There are assets that belong to José and now he doesn't know whether he has them or not," he continued, explaining that the house in question, despite belonging to Betty Grafstein, "was a family home" and that, therefore, socialite has rights related to the property.
As for the goods inside the aforementioned apartment, some "are related to basic health needs".
In turn, lawyers for Betty Grafstein and her son, Roger Grafstein, argue that José Castelo Branco traveled to New York to try to visit his ex-wife in the hospital where she is hospitalized. The socialite, it is worth remembering, has been prevented from approaching Betty Grafstein since he was accused by the Public Prosecutor's Office of the crime of domestic violence.
