Henry Borel case: new trial of Jairinho and Monique Medeiros begins

The new trial began in the morning of this Monday (25th) in the case of the death of Henry Borel, a boy who died at the age of four. Dr. Jairinho and Monique Medeiros, stepfather and mother accused of the boy's death, are tried at the II Jury Court in Rio de Janeiro.

Both are responsible for triple homicide, torture, coercion during the process and procedural fraud.

According to the accusation, Henry died in the early hours of March 8, 2021 after suffering attacks inside the apartment where he lived with Monique and Jairo, in Barra da Tijuca.

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Henry Borel case: find out what the prosecution asks against stepfather and mother

Minutes before the trial, Monique's defense claimed that it will be demonstrated that the mother had no knowledge of the attacks against her son. Furthermore, he stated that the woman was a victim of domestic violence, as was the boy.

Trial in real time
Right at the beginning of the trial, Dr. Jairinho announced the dismissal of his technical defense. He claims that it is "impossible" to continue the work after the news that one of his lawyers had a heart attack days before the court.

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He stated that there is no alternative other than postponing the trial. Then, Jairinho requested the session be postponed, claiming that he did not have enough time to align the strategy with the other defenders.

In turn, the Public Ministry states that the panel has been following the case for a long time and that Jairinho is postponing the trial once again, in addition to saying that the man "does not want to face reality".

In addition, the agency said that Jairo is in a "softer" prison, which would be Bangu 8. However, due to the circumstances, the request was made for Jairinho to be transferred to Bangu 1.

After a few minutes, the MP stated that he was ready to carry out the trial of Monique Medeiros. However, Monique's defense said she does not agree to continue the work.

Requests denied
About a week ago, Jairinho's defense asked for the trial to be postponed. However, the request was refused by the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice.

The man's lawyers had requested expanded access to digital evidence, authorization for new expertise and reexamination of the case material, which would change the trial date.

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Monique Medeiros cries after receiving provisional release in trial for her son's death - CNN Brasil

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Jairinho, Henry Borel's stepfather, on trial over child's death - CNN Brasil

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Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel, on trial for her own son's death - CNN Brasil

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Jairinho, Henry Borel's stepfather, on trial over child's death - CNN Brasil

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Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel, on trial for her own son's death - CNN Brasil

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Upon arrival at the Jury Court, Henry Borel's father, Leniel Borel, expressed a mix of gratitude, anxiety and a strong plea for justice. He highlighted that the trial is not just about his son's name, but about "how much Brazil is willing to protect its children" - Camille Barbosa - CNN Brasil

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Judge in trial of Monique Medeiros and Jairinho over the death of Henry Borel - CNN Brasil

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The Sentencing Council was defined at the beginning of the trial of Monique Medeiros and Dr.

Jairinho in Rio de Janeiro - CNN

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Cristiano Medina, acts as a lawyer and assistant to the prosecution, representing the interests of Leniel Borel (father of the victim) - CNN Brasil

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The legal team seeks the defendant's acquittal, supporting the thesis that Monique was in an abusive relationship with Jairinho and that he had a profile of victimizing people like her - CNN Brasil

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The former councilor's lawyers deny the attacks and defend the thesis that the death was accidental - CNN Brasil

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Former Rio de Janeiro councilor and former doctor, Jairo Souza Santos Júnior, was the child's stepfather and is identified by investigations as the author of the physical attacks that caused Henry's death. - Reproduction

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Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel, is answering for the crime based on the relevant omission, because, according to the prosecution, she was aware of the torture suffered by her son and consented to the situation. - Jaqueline Frizon/CNN

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The boy's father, Leniel Borel de Almeida, commented on this Monday's trial date (25). "It's not just Henry's name that will be on trial. It's how much Brazil is willing to protect its children," he said.

Murder and the accused's version
According to investigations, the child was taken unconscious to the hospital, where the medical team found that the boy arrived dead. Initially, Monique and Jairinho claimed that Henry had suffered a domestic accident, falling out of bed while sleeping.

However, the autopsy report from the Legal Medical Institute (IML) ruled out this hypothesis by identifying 23 lesions spread across the child's body.

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On the left Dr. Jairinho, on the right Monique Medeiros with her son Henry Borel - Arte/CNN

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Monique Medeiros at a hearing to hear witnesses in the process regarding the death of the boy Henry Borel - Photo: MARCOS PORTO/AGÊNCIA O DIA/AGÊNCIA O DIA/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

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Monique Medeiros at a hearing to hear witnesses in the process regarding the death of the boy Henry Borel - Photo: MARCOS PORTO/AGÊNCIA O DIA/AGÊNCIA O DIA/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

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Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel and accused of omission in her son's death, installed an electronic ankle bracelet and was placed under house arrest, as established by the courts - CNN

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Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel and accused of omission in her son's death, installed an electronic ankle bracelet and was placed under house arrest, as established by the courts - CNN

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Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel and accused of omission in her son's death, installed an electronic ankle bracelet and was placed under house arrest, as established by the courts - CNN

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Prison of former councilor Dr.

Jairinho in the Henry Borel Case - ESTADÃO CONTÚDO

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Former councilor Jairo Souza Santos Júnior, known as Jairinho, in a hearing at the Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro, in the center of Rio de Janeiro - Photo: PAULO CARNEIRO/PHOTOPRESS/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

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Dr. Jairinho, boyfriend of Monique Medeiros da Costa e Silva, mother of the boy Henry Borel, after giving a statement about the death of the 4-year-old boy - Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil

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The cause of death was indicated as internal bleeding and liver laceration caused by blunt force. Civil Police investigations concluded that Henry was subjected to a routine of attacks and torture carried out by Dr. Jairinho.

Furthermore, according to the investigation, Monique Medeiros was aware of the violence. She would have been alerted by the boy's nanny at least a month before his death, but she consented to the situation.

The popular jury
The case will be judged by the Jury Court, responsible for cases of intentional crimes against life, such as homicide. In these cases, the decision is made not only by a judge, but also by citizens chosen to serve as jurors.

In the popular jury, seven people are selected to form the Sentencing Council. They follow the entire trial, listen to witnesses, analyze evidence and, at the end, answer questions asked by the judge about the guilt or innocence of the accused. The decision is made by a majority vote.

The judge who presides over the session conducts the trial, ensures compliance with the rules and defines the penalty in case of conviction. During the process, the Public Prosecutor's Office and defense present their versions of the facts.

The Jury Court is provided for in the Constitution and is mandatory in crimes against life. The trial in the Henry Borel case could take several days, due to the number of witnesses and the complexity of the charges.

Situation of the accused and maintenance of prisons
As the process progressed, Jairinho had his mandate as councilor revoked for breach of parliamentary decorum and definitively lost his professional registration as a doctor.

Since the crime, the criminal situation of the defendants has gone through several stages:

- Dr. Jairinho: has remained in preventive detention since April 2021. Different requests for habeas corpus were denied by the Court, which argues the need to ensure public order.
- Monique Medeiros: led a legal dispute over her freedom. He obtained the right to be released in 2022, but returned to prison in July 2023 after a decision by Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the STF. In March 2025, the TJRJ (Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro) unanimously maintained his preventive detention.

In 2022, the Henry Borel Law was sanctioned, which made homicide against children under 14 years of age a heinous crime, increasing penalties and establishing protective measures for children and adolescents who are victims of domestic violence.

Source: CNN