By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — An 80-year-old Central Falls man was brutally beaten in his office Friday afternoon, allegedly at the hands of his daughter-in-law and adult grandson.

According to police, officers were called to investigate the scene by Pawtucket Firefighters, who had responded to a 911 call at A. Menezes Inc., a business at 463 Main St. The victim’s business partner said he had arrived at the office at around 6 p.m. and found the victim, Antero R. Menezes, of Shawmut Ave., lying on a coach and having difficulty breathing. The office was also in a state of disarray, he said, with papers and cushions thrown around.
Menezes told police that he had been sitting alone in the office at around 4 p.m. when his daughter-in-law, identified as Maria Caroline Relhas, walked in and began yelling at him about family issues. Menezes said that he got up from his chair and told Relhas to leave, but she walked towards him and began slapping him in the face and head. He said he tried to push her away, but she punched him in the stomach, causing him to lose his breath and fall down. He said that while on the floor, he felt her kick him several times and then she ran out of the office.
Menezes said he remained on the floor because he was having a hard time breathing, and about ten minutes later, his two grandsons came in. Menezes stated that the older grandson, Joao P. Menezes, also began yelling at him in Portuguese and threatening his life. 
He said Joao kicked him several times in the chest area and slapped him across the face, until his younger brother pulled him away.

Menezes said he remained on the floor in pain until he felt cold water being dumped on him, and then heard both his grandsons leave the building. He said the next thing he remembered was having sharp pains in his chest and waking up to see his business partner approximately two hours later.

Menezes was transported to the Memorial Hospital for treatment of a bruised rib and several contusions to the head and face.

After interviewing Menezes, police responded to the Portugalia Liquors, 225 Barton St., which Maria C. Relhas reportedly owns. Joao Menezes, who works at the store, was taken into custody and Relhas was arrested a short time later.

Menezes, 28, and Relhas, 50, both of 1402 Louisquisett Pike, Lincoln, were each charged with assault on persons over 60 causing bodily injury--domestic, a felony.
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