In a significant verdict delivered by a Brazilian jury court, Moacir Gonçalves Júnior, aged 50, has been sentenced to 52 years of imprisonment in a closed regime. The conviction stems from the triple homicide of his former companion and her parents, a crime that shocked the state of Mato Grosso back in September 2009.
The court's decision, handed down on Thursday, May 7, 2026, found Gonçalves Júnior guilty of qualified murder. The prosecution successfully argued that the perpetrator acted with vile motives and used methods that hindered the victims' ability to defend themselves, leading to the harsh sentence.
The tragic events unfolded when Gonçalves Júnior traveled to the residence of Alexandra de Paula Leandro, from whom he had been separated for approximately one year. There, he opened fire, killing Alexandra, her mother Maria Aparecida de Paula Leandro, and her stepfather, Levi Monteiro de Souza.
Following the brutal killings, the convicted man managed to evade law enforcement for a remarkable period of approximately 15 years. His time on the run came to an end in 2025 when he was apprehended in neighboring Bolivia and subsequently brought back to face justice in Brazil.
The Jury Council fully accepted the arguments presented by the Public Ministry, confirming both the authorship and the materiality of the crimes. The recognition of the qualifying circumstances was crucial in securing the lengthy prison term for the triple homicide.
This case highlights the long arm of the law and the persistence of the Brazilian justice system in pursuing fugitives. The sentence brings a measure of closure to a case that has lingered for over a decade and a half, ensuring the perpetrator will spend a significant portion of his remaining life behind bars.
Based on reporting from g1.