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Jury clears Brazil police of 1996 murder of PC Farias | Jury clears Brazil police of 1996 murder of PC Farias |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Four former policemen who stood accused of failing to prevent the murder of Brazilian businessman Paulo Cesar Farias and his girlfriend have been cleared of the charges. | Four former policemen who stood accused of failing to prevent the murder of Brazilian businessman Paulo Cesar Farias and his girlfriend have been cleared of the charges. |
The four officers worked as Mr Farias's bodyguards at the time of his killing. | The four officers worked as Mr Farias's bodyguards at the time of his killing. |
The couple were found shot dead in their room on 23 June 1996 in Alagoas state, in north-eastern Brazil. | The couple were found shot dead in their room on 23 June 1996 in Alagoas state, in north-eastern Brazil. |
The death of Mr Farias and his partner, Suzana Marcolino, is considered one of Brazil's most famous murder mysteries. | The death of Mr Farias and his partner, Suzana Marcolino, is considered one of Brazil's most famous murder mysteries. |
'Crime of passion' | 'Crime of passion' |
Mr Farias, 50, was the treasurer for the political campaign of then-President Fernando Collor de Melo. | Mr Farias, 50, was the treasurer for the political campaign of then-President Fernando Collor de Melo. |
He was suspected of being a key figure in the corruption scheme which forced Mr Collor to resign in 1992. | He was suspected of being a key figure in the corruption scheme which forced Mr Collor to resign in 1992. |
When he was found shot dead in his bed next to Suzana Marcolino, 28, who had also been killed by a bullet, most people assumed Mr Farias had been silenced. | When he was found shot dead in his bed next to Suzana Marcolino, 28, who had also been killed by a bullet, most people assumed Mr Farias had been silenced. |
But the forensic report at the time concluded Mr Farias had been shot by Ms Marcolino in a crime of passion. | But the forensic report at the time concluded Mr Farias had been shot by Ms Marcolino in a crime of passion. |
The report said Ms Marcolino had pulled the trigger and then killed herself. | The report said Ms Marcolino had pulled the trigger and then killed herself. |
But with speculation continuing to run rife, the bodies were exhumed in 1999. | But with speculation continuing to run rife, the bodies were exhumed in 1999. |
Absolved | Absolved |
Forensic experts said they could not rule out that Ms Marcolino had committed suicide, but neither could they rule out murder, with some evidence pointing to the latter. | |
The role of the four bodyguards has also been the subject of much speculation. | The role of the four bodyguards has also been the subject of much speculation. |
Two of the four men were on guard the night of the shooting, and prosecutors had argued they had turned a blind eye to the crime. | Two of the four men were on guard the night of the shooting, and prosecutors had argued they had turned a blind eye to the crime. |
But in a four-to-three ruling the jury decided to absolve all four of them. | But in a four-to-three ruling the jury decided to absolve all four of them. |
"The jurors understand that the accused Adeildo [Costa dos Santos] and Jose Geraldo had the obligation of protecting their [PC Farias's and Suzana Marcolino's] lives, but the jurors decided to show clemency and absolve them," Judge Mauricio Breda explained. | "The jurors understand that the accused Adeildo [Costa dos Santos] and Jose Geraldo had the obligation of protecting their [PC Farias's and Suzana Marcolino's] lives, but the jurors decided to show clemency and absolve them," Judge Mauricio Breda explained. |
Judge Breda said the decision to grant clemency was rare, but within the remit of the jurors. | Judge Breda said the decision to grant clemency was rare, but within the remit of the jurors. |
The jurors also ruled that the death of the couple had been a double homicide, adding new fuel to what local media call "Brazil's most famous murder mystery". | The jurors also ruled that the death of the couple had been a double homicide, adding new fuel to what local media call "Brazil's most famous murder mystery". |
The judge said the prosecution had five days to appeal against the ruling. | The judge said the prosecution had five days to appeal against the ruling. |
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