STJ halts Crime of 113 South: tie between imprisoning Adriana Villela and overturning conviction

The Sixth Chamber of the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) once again interrupted, on Tuesday (5), the trial of the case known as the Crime of 113 South, one of the most notorious criminal episodes in the Federal District. The session, which reviewed appeals related to the conviction of architect Adriana Villela, accused of orchestrating the murder of her parents, José Guilherme Villela and Maria Villela, and the family’s maid, Francisca Nascimento, in 2009, lasted less than ten minutes. Minister Og Fernandes requested a review, postponing the decision for up to 90 days. The vote is tied at 1-1, with the rapporteur Rogério Schietti voting to uphold the conviction and order immediate imprisonment, while Sebastião Reis Júnior advocated for the annulment of the criminal case. Adriana’s defense alleges procedural flaws, and the Federal District Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPDFT) insists on immediate execution of the sentence.

The case analysis began at 2:13 p.m. but was quickly suspended. The only vote presented was by Sebastião Reis Júnior, who diverged from the rapporteur by pointing out serious irregularities in the criminal case. The case, involving a brutal triple homicide, continues to captivate public attention and reignites debates about the sovereignty of the Jury Court.

• Points under review: Defense appeals to overturn Adriana Villela’s conviction.
• MPDFT requests: Immediate imprisonment based on the STF’s ruling on jury sovereignty.
• Current status: Vote tied, with three ministers yet to vote in the Sixth Chamber.

The STJ trial is a development in a case that has been ongoing for 16 years since the crime in August 2009. The complexity of the case and successive interruptions keep the outcome uncertain.

Sebastião Reis Júnior’s dissenting vote

Minister Sebastião Reis Júnior, presenting his vote, argued for the complete annulment of the criminal case, including the Jury Court that convicted Adriana Villela in 2019. He claimed there were serious violations of the right to defense, particularly due to the defense’s delayed access to co-defendants’ testimonies, provided only on the seventh day of the trial. According to the magistrate, this flaw compromised the entire procedural phase from the initial evidence collection.

Sebastião’s stance contrasts with the rapporteur, Rogério Schietti, who in March 2025 rejected the defense’s requests and supported Adriana’s immediate imprisonment. Schietti emphasized that the jury’s verdict was legitimate and evidence-based, respecting the jurors’ sovereignty as per the Supreme Federal Court (STF) ruling in Theme 1,068.

The tied vote reflects the case’s complexity and differing interpretations of alleged procedural irregularities. Adriana’s defense, led by attorneys Antônio Carlos de Almeida Castro, known as Kakay, and Marcelo Turbay, insists annulment is necessary to correct injustices.

• Alleged irregularity: Delayed access to co-defendants’ testimonies during the jury.
• Annulment impact: A new trial would be called, with Adriana as a defendant.
• Defense argument: Withheld evidence undermines the process’s legitimacy.

The suspension by Og Fernandes keeps the anticipation high for the remaining three ministers’ votes.

Details of the Crime of 113 South

The Crime of 113 South shocked Brasília in August 2009 when José Guilherme Villela, a former minister of the Superior Electoral Court (TSE), his wife, Maria Villela, and maid Francisca Nascimento were found dead in the family’s apartment in Block 113 of Asa Sul. The victims were killed with over 70 stab wounds, in a case that exposed flaws in the Federal District Civil Police’s initial investigations.

Adriana Villela, the couple’s daughter, was identified as the mastermind and convicted in 2019 to 67 years and 6 months in prison, later adjusted to 61 years and 3 months by the Federal District and Territories Court of Justice (TJDFT). Three others involved—former doorman Paulo Cardoso Santana, his nephew Leonardo Campos Alves, and Francisco Mairlon—were sentenced to 62, 60, and 55 years, respectively, and are serving their sentences.

Adriana’s defense claims her innocence, arguing that investigations overlooked evidence supporting her alibi, such as an email sent from her personal computer at the time of the crime. In a letter released before the trial, Adriana stated she is a victim of injustice and denied involvement in the murder of her parents and the maid.

Public Prosecutor’s Office stance

The MPDFT, along with the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) and assistant prosecutors, advocates for Adriana Villela’s immediate imprisonment. Their argument relies on the STF’s September 2024 ruling, which authorized the imprisonment of those convicted by a Jury Court, even with pending appeals. The agency maintains that the defense’s claims of nullity were addressed in prior instances and that the 2019 jury verdict is robust, supported by over 40 pieces of evidence.

Prosecutor Marcelo Leite Borges, during the trial, highlighted the strength of the evidence, including forensics, videos, and testimonies, which supported the conviction. He stressed that the jurors, after ten days of deliberation, found Adriana guilty based on evidence like her cold demeanor in interrogations and the motive of greed for her parents’ inheritance.

• MPDFT evidence: Forensics, testimonies, and crime reenactments.
• Legal basis: STF Theme 1,068, validating immediate imprisonment post-jury.
• MPF stance: Rejection of defense appeals for lack of merit.
• Core argument: Jury sovereignty must prevail over appeals.

The push for immediate imprisonment reflects pressure for a resolution after over a decade of proceedings.

Repercussion and next steps

The trial’s interruption reignited public interest in the Crime of 113 South, the subject of a 2025 Globoplay documentary series. Adriana’s daughter, Carolina Villela, attended the session and, visibly emotional, confirmed speaking with her mother after Sebastião Reis’s vote but declined further comments. The defense expressed confidence in the annulment, calling the process “absurd” and “unjust.”

The postponement by Og Fernandes, with a 60-day deadline extendable by another 30, keeps Adriana Villela free while the STJ deliberates. If the conviction is upheld, the TJDFT will issue an arrest warrant. If annulment prevails, a new jury trial will be called, reopening the case. Both sides can still appeal the final decision, either at the STJ with declaratory embargoes or at the STF as a last resort.

• Postponement deadline: Up to 90 days for trial resumption.
• Possible outcomes: Immediate imprisonment or a new jury trial for Adriana.
• Available appeals: STJ embargoes or STF appeal.

The case continues to spark debates about the judicial system’s efficiency and the application of Jury Court sovereignty, especially after the STF ruling that altered penal execution dynamics.

Procedural history

The Crime of 113 South case is marked by judicial back-and-forth. In 2019, Adriana Villela’s trial was the longest in Federal District history, lasting ten days and over 100 hours of deliberation. The defense highlighted flaws since the initial investigation, including a police officer’s conviction for irregularities. Still, the TJDFT upheld the conviction in 2022, rejecting annulment requests.

The defense argues the conviction relied on weak evidence and that a juror’s comments against a lawyer on social media compromised impartiality. The MPDFT counters that all legal guarantees were upheld and the evidence suffices to prove Adriana’s guilt.

The STJ trial, started in March 2025, is seen as a milestone that could redefine Adriana Villela’s fate and public perception of the criminal justice system.