Tio Paulo case: niece is now being investigated for manslaughter

Érika de Souza Vieira Nunes, 42 years old, who took her uncle Paulo Roberto Braga, 68 years old, to take out a loan, when he was already dead, was now being investigated for the crime of manslaughter, when there is no intention to kill.

The niece will also be charged with attempted theft by fraud and vilification of a corpse.

The defense learned from the case files, where the responsible delegate, Fabio Luiz Souza, from the 34th DP (Bangu), added the crime of culpable homicide,

“His considerations were based, according to him [delegado], statements by Ms. Érica herself and also by other witnesses, which the defense rejects, because at no point did Ms. Érica declare that she was Mr. Paulo's caregiver nor did she carry out this activity, and the witnesses who report at the police headquarters say about the care that she had for Mr Paulo when accompanying him, not that she was a caregiver and such witnesses are people completely removed from the family bond, being people who are strangers to the family relationship. Therefore, the defense, at an opportune moment, will be contesting and refuting such capitulation”, says a note from Érika Souza’s defense.

About the case:

The woman went to the bank branch last Tuesday afternoon (16) with the elderly man to try to withdraw a loan worth R$17,000.

While she negotiates the loan, the man remains motionless the entire time. Bank employees found the situation strange and started filming.

The images taken by bank employees show that Érika speaks to the elderly man: “Uncle Paulo, are you listening? You need to sign. If you don't sign, there's no way. I can't sign for you. It has to be you. What I can do, I do.”

“Hold on, uncle. Sign so you don't give me any more headaches, having to go to the registry office. I can’t take it anymore,” she continues.

One of the attendants sees that the man isn't moving and says: “He's not okay.” At that moment, a fly lands on his nose.

Time of death:

An autopsy report carried out by the Legal Medical Institute (IML) was unable to conclude whether the elderly Paulo Roberto Braga died before or after arriving at the bank, where he was taken in a wheelchair to withdraw a loan by Érika de Souza Vieira Nunes, from 42 years old, relative of the elderly person. The case happened last Tuesday afternoon (16) in Bangu, in the West Zone of Rio.

The Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) was called to the scene. According to the Civil Police, doctors stated that Paulo was already dead at least two hours before treatment. The body was sent to the IML to investigate the circumstances of death.
According to the delegate, the Samu doctor's assessment of the time of death was corroborated by the report from the Legal Medical Institute (IML) which states that the death could have occurred between 11:30 am and 2:30 pm.

Initially, Érika must answer for attempted theft through fraud and vilification of a corpse. “If it is determined that the cause of death was not natural, a homicide investigation will be opened.”