In a significant legal development, the Justice system of Minas Gerais has decided to send Arthur Caique Benjamin de Souza to a popular jury trial. He stands accused of the homicide of Alice Martins Alves, a 33-year-old trans woman who was brutally beaten after leaving a snack bar in the Savassi neighborhood of Belo Horizonte without settling a R$22 bill in October 2025.
The presiding judge, Ana Carolina Rauen Lopes de Souza, determined there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the charge of qualified homicide. However, in a crucial ruling, the magistrate rejected two aggravating factors requested by the prosecution: feminicide and the use of cruel means. The court's reasoning was that the available evidence points to the crime being motivated by the trivial debt, not by the victim's gender identity. Furthermore, while acknowledging the violence, the judge stated it was not proven the attackers acted with the intent to cause prolonged suffering or with sadism.
The court did, however, maintain the qualifying circumstances of futile motive and a means that hindered the victim's defense. The decision highlights that Alice was attacked over an insignificant debt and was in a vulnerable state, reportedly intoxicated at the time of the assault.
In a separate but related decision, the second accused, Willian Gustavo de Jesus do Carmo, was "impronounced," meaning the criminal action against him has been terminated. The judge concluded there was no evidence he directly participated in the aggression, noting he merely "remained distant, laughing and mocking the situation."
Regarding Arthur's custody status, the defendant, who had been in preventive detention, has been granted authorization to respond to the trial while free. This release is conditional upon strict precautionary measures. He must wear an electronic ankle monitor for at least one year, maintain a minimum distance of 300 meters from witnesses and the victim's family, and cannot leave the state capital for extended periods without judicial permission.
The case stems from a violent incident in the early hours of October 23, 2025. According to investigations, Alice Martins Alves was pursued and severely beaten with punches and kicks by two employees after leaving the establishment. The police report detailed grave injuries, including rib fractures, a deviated nasal septum, and intestinal perforation. A passing motorcyclist intervened and called for medical help, preventing her death at the scene.
Although Alice received initial medical care and was released, her condition deteriorated. She sought hospital treatment in the following days, where examinations revealed serious internal injuries from the beating. She tragically died 19 days later from septic shock caused by a generalized infection linked to the intestinal perforation.
The trial by jury, where seven citizens will decide the accused's guilt or innocence, has not yet been scheduled. Based on reporting from g1.