Court maintains arrest of day laborer suspected of killing elderly people in MG
The court converted into preventive the arrest of Paola Stefany Neto Cirino, suspected of killing an elderly couple in the São Pedro neighborhood, in Minas Gerais. The woman underwent a custody hearing on Friday (3) at the Capital District Custody Hearing Center.
According to judge Juliana Beretta Kirche Ferreira Pinto, responsible for the decision, Paola must answer for the two crimes of completed robbery, when there is robbery followed by death, for the murder of Cláudio Atala Inácio, aged 75, and his wife, Maria Clotilde Moreira Maciel Atala, on the 29th.
After carrying out toxicological tests, it was possible to confirm the absence of psychiatric medications and narcotic substances present in the suspect's blood. However, the judge did not rule out the possibility that the crime was caused by a deterioration in Paola's mental health.
Defence requests
At the hearing, Paola's defense claimed that the diarist carried out the murders during a psychotic episode. However, the Court understood that there are no objective elements, such as documents or medical reports, that prove any mental illness presented by the suspect.
Another request was to replace preventive detention with house arrest, since, according to the defense, Paola has a six-year-old daughter.
The benefit was not validated by the judge, who understood that the case qualifies as a crime involving violence or serious threat, which, according to legislation, does not allow for the granting of house arrest.
The court also denied the process to be processed in secrecy.
CNN Brasil sought Paola's defense, who has not responded so far. The space remains open.
Remember the case
Felipe, the couple's son, went to his parents' house on Tuesday (30), after being unable to contact them for more than 24 hours. When he arrived at the apartment, located in the São Pedro neighborhood, he found the victims lifeless.
After calling the PMMG (Military Police of Minas Gerais), it was discovered that Cláudio was on the bed in the couple's bedroom, while Maria Clotilde was found in the living room, lying on the floor in front of the sofa.
According to the expert report, the lawyer received more than 40 stab wounds to the back, stomach and neck. The woman had 15 knife marks on her throat, chin, chest, neck and pelvis.
The couple's bodies were sent to the IML (Legal Medical Institute), where they were subjected to examinations and, soon after, released to their families.
According to the Civil Police, the suspect stole luxury items from the victims, such as cell phones, watches, jewelry, as well as physical money.
Arrested for death of elderly people in MG had a debt of R$40 thousand for gambling
Dynamics
On the day of the crime, Monday (29), Paola was caught by security cameras entering the building at 7:30 am and leaving around 3:30 pm.
In the image taken while leaving the building, she had changed her clothes, carrying her original bag and two new additional large bags that were not with her in the morning.
There is still no confirmation that the woman acted alone in the crime. She was seen getting into a car after leaving the building, which could be a vehicle driven by a second person involved, or just by an app driver driven by her.
Paola, who had been missing since the day of the crime, was arrested in the early hours of Thursday (2), in Itabira, about 107 km from the capital of Minas Gerais.
Motivation
When asked about the motivation for the crime, Paola claims to have heard voices that instructed her, claiming to have destroyed her own life and that of other people. The woman claims that, after robbing the couple, she "wasn't satisfied" and had to kill them.
According to the Civil Police, at the time of arrest, Paola offered no resistance and stated that she was sorry, saying that she hoped to be found by the authorities and, if she was not found today, she would report herself to a police unit.
*Under the supervision of Carolina Figueiredo
Source: CNN