Justice resumes proceedings against PRF agents indicted in the Genivaldo case

This Tuesday morning (6), the Federal Court in Sergipe resumed the hearings of the criminal case against the three federal road police officers involved in the approach that resulted in the death of Genivaldo de Jesus, in May of this year.

In the morning, agent William de Barros Noia was heard at the Minister Geraldo Barreto Sobral Forum, in Aracaju.

The forecast is to collect the testimonies of Kleber Nascimento Freitas and Paulo Rodolpho Nascimento this Tuesday. However, hearings can take a few days due to the amount of questions to be asked. Lawyers for the defendants did not speak to the press.

The process is in the final stage of the instruction hearings, with the interrogation of the defendants. After this stage, justice will decide whether or not the defendants will go to the popular jury. According to the Federal Court, 34 witnesses for the prosecution and defense were questioned.

The Case

Genivaldo de Jesus Santos was 38 years old and died after being approached by the Federal Highway Police (PRF) in May this year. During the action, Genivaldo, who was on a motorcycle and without a helmet, was stopped by agents on BR-101, in Umbaúba (SE). Police officers claim he reacted to the approach.

The victim was immobilized and placed in the trunk of the vehicle, when the police used pepper spray and tear gas for 11 minutes and 27 seconds, according to an expert report. The population recorded the moment when Genivaldo was inside the vehicle. He suffered from schizophrenia and had been treated for 18 years.

The Legal Medical Institute (IML) pointed out that Genivaldo’s death was caused by mechanical asphyxia and acute respiratory failure. The Federal Police completed the investigation and indicted the officers involved in the approach.

The police officers were arrested on a preventive basis after reporting to the Federal Police on October 14. They were indicted for torture, qualified homicide and abuse of authority.