Hours before the interrogation of defendants Jairo Souza dos Santos Júnior, known as Dr. Jairinho, and Monique Medeiros, Henry Borel’s stepfather and mother, this Wednesday (9), the former councilor’s new defense lawyers talked about what expect from the process.
In an interview with the press, the lawyer Flávia Froes, who works in the defense of the couple, said that the two are innocent. “The defensive investigative work I produced proves that Monique is innocent and Jairinho is innocent,” she said.
Flávia also questioned the work of the coroner at the Legal Medical Institute (IML). According to her, the professional would have destroyed important evidence for the process.
“Evidence is being destroyed. The official expert informed the court that he used and discarded personal notes related to the autopsy. This is very serious after six contradictory reports. We want him to be heard to explain why he threw it away”, said the lawyer.
Lawyer Lúcio Adolfo, from the same defense panel, denied having asked Jairinho to remain silent during the interrogation.
“Today is an important moment in the process. He has the right to present his version, we will advise him and he will accept it or not. We have no intention of delay. We don’t want this to go on any further,” the lawyer said.
Regarding the request to postpone the interrogation, made this week, the defense said it needed access to more information.
“I arrived after the process. We are concerned that it is possible for the judge to know the full extent of the evidence, not part of it that has been made public,” she said.
The aunt of Leniel Borel, father of Jairinho, Maria Aparecida Camargo Borges said that the family’s expectation is that justice will be done after the interrogation.
“We only ask for justice because we know that something very serious has happened. I believe, she as a mother, for example, must confess something. He doesn’t, but he will,” she said.
This Wednesday, the defendants will be heard by the Public Ministry, defense and by Judge Elisabeth Machado, from the 2nd Criminal Court of the Capital. After this last interrogation, the defense and prosecution will present their closing arguments, which should happen in the next few days.
After reviewing these requests, the judge will issue the so-called indictment, which will define whether or not the couple will go to the popular jury.
Henry Borel, 4 years old, died on March 8, 2021. According to the complaint, he was tortured by his stepfather.
The couple was arrested in April 2021. They were denounced by the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MP-RJ) for the practice of qualified murder, torture, witness coercion, procedural fraud and misrepresentation.
Witnesses testified
Judge Elizabeth Machado Louro, from the 2nd Criminal Court of the Capital, began the instruction and trial hearing on October 6 of last year. 10 prosecution witnesses were heard.
On December 14, the last witnesses for the prosecution and Jairinho’s defense were heard. The following day, it was the turn of the witnesses for Monique Medeiros’ defense to be heard.
During the investigations were heard:
- Thiago K. Ribeiro, former councilor of Rio and member of the Municipal Court of Auditors
- Herondina de Lourdes Fernandes, Jairinho’s aunt
- Colonel Jairo, father of Jairinho
- Cristiane Isidoro, former advisor to Jairinho
- Fernanda Abidu Figueiredo, former partner of Jairinho
- Luiz Fernando Abidu Figueiredo dos Santos, son of Jairinho
- Sigmar Rodrigues de Almeida, civil police officer
- Rogério Baroni, family driver
- Tereza Cristina dos Santos, a hairdresser who witnessed a video call on February 12, 2021, in which the child and the nanny were talking to Monique Medeiros.
Source: CNN Brasil
