A former city councilman from the Brazilian state of Acre has been found guilty of murder and sentenced to a significant prison term for a fatal shooting that occurred across the border in Bolivia. The verdict was delivered by a jury in Rio Branco on Thursday, concluding a case that began in June 2022.
The defendant, Mauristelio Tessinari de Sousa, widely known by his nickname Teio Tessinari, was convicted of killing Antônio Deuzimar Santiago da Silva. The court sentenced him to six years and nine months of imprisonment, to be served initially in a semi-open regime. This type of sentence typically allows for certain work or study activities outside the prison facility during the day.
The crime took place on June 16, 2022, in a rural area near the Acre-Bolivia border. According to the prosecution's case presented by the Acre State Public Ministry (MP-AC), the victim was traveling to a farm where he raised cattle. He had exited his vehicle to open a gate when he was confronted and shot four times by Tessinari.
The prosecution argued that the motive for the killing was to prevent the victim from reporting or punishing Tessinari for an alleged theft of cattle. The jury ultimately accepted the core facts of the case but did not uphold the aggravating circumstances initially sought by the prosecution, which included claims of an ambush and the use of methods that hindered the victim's ability to defend himself.
The trial session had been previously scheduled but was postponed from its original date in November of the prior year. The final decision was reached after the jury considered the evidence and arguments from both sides. The defense for the former councilman has been contacted for comment but has not yet provided a response.
In its deliberation, the court also took into account the personal impact of the crime, referencing a precedent from Brazil's Superior Court of Justice (STJ). The victim left behind two children, including an infant who was only six months old at the time of his father's death, a factor that underscores the profound loss suffered by the family.
Based on reporting from g1.