Trial of Monique Medeiros and Dr. Jairinho begins after impasse with lawyers

Former councilor Jairo Souza Santos Júnior, known as Dr. Jairinho, and Monique Medeiros began trial in the early afternoon of this Monday (25) in Tribunal of Júri of Rio of Janeiro for the death of the 4-year-old boy Henry Borel. The session took place after a morning marked by uncertainty about possible postponement and changes in the former parliamentarian’s defense.

Defesa reconstituted and trial resumed

Dr. Jairinho dismissed the law firm that defended him after the heart attack of lawyer Fabiano Lopes, one of the former councilor’s defenders. The decision generated immediate procedural tension. Judge Elisabeth Machado Louro signaled a possible postponement and was evaluating the transfer of Jairinho from Cadeia Pública Pedrolino Werling from Oliveira (Bangu 8) to Penitenciária Laércio from Costa Pellegrino (Bangu 1), as requested by Ministério Público.

During the session, Jairinho interrupted the judge and reconvened his defense, including his own son, lawyer Luís Fernando Abidul, on the panel of lawyers. The judge stated in a decision that “the numerous attempts to delay the trial of this case make not only this judge, but all the others involved in the case hostage to it on the initiative of just one of the parties.”

With the defense reestablished, Elisabeth Machado Louro proceeded with jury trial. Sete judges were drawn, resulting in a final composition of 5 women and 2 men.

Estrutura and trial duration

The prosecution and defense estimate that the trial will last between 5 and 7 days. Of a total of 27 witnesses listed, 4 testimonies from prosecution witnesses were scheduled for Monday:

• 2 delegates
• 1 expert
• 1 coroner

Monique Medeiros’s defense, represented by lawyer Hugo Novais, requested that the trial of Henry’s mother not be disbanded, since she is accused of murder by omission. Este argument influenced the judge’s decision to keep the two defendants in the same case.

Antecedentes from previous postponement

Este trial returns after postponement on March 23. Naquela On this occasion, Jairinho’s defense requested a postponement due to lack of access to evidence. Após rejected the request by judge Elisabeth Machado Louro, the defense lawyers left the plenary, causing the process to be interrupted.

Acusações and complaint

Segundo the complaint of Ministério Público, in the early hours of March 8, 2021, Dr. Jairinho beat the boy Henry, his stepson, to death, while Monique Medeiros remained silent, contributing to the child’s death. The accusing body also points out that on 3 other occasions during February 2021, Jairo subjected the boy to physical and mental suffering through the use of violence.

Dr. Jairinho is responsible for qualified homicide carried out by cruel means that made it impossible for the victim to defend himself, in addition to 3 counts of torture against a child. Monique Medeiros is responsible for homicide by omission qualified for a base motive and for a resource that made it impossible for the victim to defend himself. Penalties in case of conviction can be severe given the nature of the charges and the crime involving a minor.