In a harrowing case of domestic violence in São Paulo, a 28-year-old woman named Julia Andrade Abreu was subjected to a brutal, prolonged assault by her ex-boyfriend, Thiago Lucas de Vasconcelos, 31. The attack, which lasted approximately 10 to 12 minutes, began inside a car and continued at a gas station in the Freguesia do Ô neighborhood. Security cameras captured part of the violent episode, which involved kicks, punches, bites, and the use of objects like a piece of wood and an industrial sink.
The victim described a terrifying sequence of events. After a medical visit, she was giving her ex a ride when he became agitated and intoxicated. He began verbally assaulting her, then physically attacked her inside the vehicle, breaking the driver's seat. She managed to escape the car but was pulled back by her hair. He then allegedly attempted to run her over with the car before she fled into the gas station's restricted area, where the assault continued with even greater intensity.
Julia suffered significant injuries, including pain in her neck, back, leg, ribs, and intimate areas. The psychological trauma is immense, leaving her in constant fear for her life. The relationship had a history of abuse, characterized by verbal insults, psychological violence, and extreme controlling behavior. The ex-boyfriend allegedly monitored her daily activities, from when she could shower to restricting her movements unless accompanied by his daughter.
The ordeal was compounded by her experience at the police station. Julia reported that she waited nearly nine hours at the 4th Women's Defense Precinct (DDM) to file her report, all while injured and covered in blood. She alleges she was disrespected by a delegate who, upon hearing her fears, told her, "since you're so scared, move cities." In another instance, a clerk reportedly asked her, "what are you doing with a guy like that?"
The São Paulo Public Security Secretariat (SSP) expressed regret over the incident, stating the behavior "does not align with the institution's directives." It added that officers at the unit have been retrained on protocols for assisting domestic violence victims and that the internal affairs department is available to investigate and take appropriate measures.
The case has been registered as domestic violence, bodily injury, and threats. Police located the aggressor on Wednesday and have requested his temporary detention from the court. The victim, a mother of two, is now recovering from both the physical and emotional scars of the attack, a stark reminder of the dangers of abusive relationships and the critical need for proper institutional support for victims.
Based on reporting from g1.