Lei Henry Borel turns 4 this Sunday; day before jury of the case
The Federal Law known as the "Henry Borel Law" turns four years old this Sunday (24), the day before the popular jury in the case, which takes place this Monday (25).
The law, sanctioned in May 2022, after the death of Henry Borel, which occurred in March 2021, aims to toughen sentences for crimes committed against children and adolescents and provides protection measures for victims of family violence.
Among the changes in legislation, the homicide of minors under 14 years of age began to be considered a heinous crime (which does not allow for the definition of bail or pardon). Furthermore, the law also determined that the perpetrator of the crime begins serving his sentence in a closed regime.
Last Wednesday (2), the 5th panel of the STJ (Superior Court of Justice) unanimously refused the request made by the defense of former councilor Jairo Souza Santos Junior, Dr. Jairinho, to annul the expert reports linked to the case of Henry's death.
The former councilor is responsible for the qualified homicide of the child, his stepson, and will be tried by the Jury Court, together with his ex-wife Monique Medeiros, Henry's mother.
After the sanction, the legislation created child protection mechanisms, establishing urgent protective measures similar to those provided for in the Maria da Penha Law. According to the Brazilian Public Security Forum, since the law came into force, more than nine thousand protective measures have been authorized among around 15 thousand registered notifications.
"The Henry Borel Law was born out of irreparable pain, but it became an instrument of protection for thousands of Brazilian children. Henry's greatest legacy is to help save lives", declared Leniel Borel, Henry's father, president of the Henry Borel Association and co-author of the federal legislation.
Read also: Brazil records an average of 150 rapes of vulnerable people per day
According to the association, among the changes that the law has presented since it was sanctioned are:
- the creation of urgent protective measures for children and adolescents who are victims of domestic and family violence;
- the possibility of immediate removal of the aggressor from the victim's life;
- inclusion of homicide against children under 14 years of age in the list of qualified homicides;
- inclusion of homicide against children under 14 years of age in the list of heinous crimes;
- increase in penalties for crimes committed against children and adolescents;
- reduction in child revictimization during testimonies and assistance;
- prohibition of decriminalizing benefits in crimes committed against children and adolescents;
- and facilitating the loss of family power in serious cases of violence.
-
Change imageChange image
1 of 13
Monique Medeiros cries after receiving provisional release in trial for her son's death - CNN Brasil
-
Change imageChange image
2 of 13
Jairinho, Henry Borel's stepfather, on trial over child's death - CNN Brasil
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
3 of 13
Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel, on trial for her own son's death - CNN Brasil
-
Change imageChange image
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
4 of 13
Jairinho, Henry Borel's stepfather, on trial over child's death - CNN Brasil
-
Change imageChange image
5 of 13
Monique Medeiros, mother of Henry Borel, on trial for her own son's death - CNN Brasil
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
6 of 13
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
-
Change imageChange image
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
7 of 13
Judge in trial of Monique Medeiros and Jairinho over the death of Henry Borel - CNN Brasil
-
Change imageChange image
8 of 13
The Sentencing Council was defined at the beginning of the trial of Monique Medeiros and Dr. Jairinho in Rio de Janeiro - CNN
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
9 of 13
Cristiano Medina, acts as a lawyer and assistant to the prosecution, representing the interests of Leniel Borel (father of the victim) - CNN Brasil
-
Change imageChange image
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
10 of 13
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
-
Change imageChange image
11 of 13
The former councilor's lawyers deny the attacks and defend the thesis that the death was accidental - CNN Brasil
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
12 of 13
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
-
Change imageChange image
-
Swap imageSwap imageSwap image
13 of 13
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
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
default view
full view
grid view
Remember the case
At just 4 years old, Henry Borel was killed on March 8, 2021. The IML (Legal Medical Institute) report identified 23 injuries on the child's body, ruling out the hypothesis of a domestic accident maintained by the defendants at the time.
Monique Medeiros is responsible for triple homicide (by omission), torture, coercion during the process, procedural fraud and ideological falsehood. She has remained in prison since April 2025, after the minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) Gilmar Mendes ordered her preventive detention again.
"Five years waiting for this day" says Henry's father about trial | LIVE CNN
Dr. Jairinho remains imprisoned in the Gericinó Complex, accused of being the perpetrator of the attacks.
Initially, the date was set for March 23rd. During the session, Jairo's defense lawyers left the plenary. As the defendant could not respond without his defense, the trial had to be postponed.
When contacted, Dr. Jairinho's defense informed that, in their view, the reports present contradictions between themselves and that there is no "logicality" in the evidence. They claim that the contradiction will be presented to the jurors of the Jury Court.
Source: CNN