Zulmira Garrido and António Leal e Silva were on the program 'Casa Feliz', on SIC, this Wednesday, May 8, talking to João Baião. As friends of both José Castelo Branco and Betty Grafstein, they gave their opinion on the controversial case of domestic violence that led the 'jet set king' to court today. 

Zulmira, who has spent time with the couple on several occasions, assured that she "never" noticed any signs of the alleged aggressions. 

A friend of Abel Dias - who publicly denounced the case - Zulmira noted that he only recently told her about what had happened. "He had never told me anything. That's why I was caught by surprise", she justified. 

"I don't know what to say. Let justice be done. If it's true, I condemn it. Despite being a friend and liking him a lot, I will start to look at him differently", she commented.

In turn, António, a friend of the couple for decades - stated: "I think this story is very poorly told. I have been a friend of Abel's for a long time. I don't want to take sides, justice must be done, domestic violence must be condemned without any kind of clemency with public figures. (...) [But] Betty is not a poor thing, nor is she fragile. She was a free, independent, authoritarian woman, very 'in control of her own life', who knew very well what she wanted". 

In António's view, the two made a "very strong duo", because if Castelo Branco had the 'ease' to be in social occasions, Betty added her knowledge. 

"Betty had the 'know-how', Zé had the glamour and sophistication", he stressed. 

He also said: "An aggressor is someone who controls, oppresses, does not give freedom, suffocates, and Zé never did that to Betty. (...) Betty was never controlled by Zé, she didn't even give him that chance". 

For the interviewee, the case will have to be very well evaluated and if it is proven to be true, then justice should be done. 

Watch the full conversation here. 

Read Also: José Castelo Branco again in the Sintra Court (Portuguese version)