The Superior Military Court (STM) decided this Wednesday (18) to reduce the sentences of eight Army soldiers accused of death of two men during a Law and Order Guarantee (GLO) operation in Rio de Janeiro, in 2019. The court judged an appeal presented by the defendants’ defense to annul the convictions for the double murder of musician Evaldo Santos and recyclable collector Luciano Macedo.
They were killed with 257 shots during an operation in which soldiers were looking for the perpetrators of a robbery and shot at the car where Evaldo was traveling, a white Ford Ka. Luciano was shot while trying to help Evaldo.
By majority vote, the ministers understood that the homicides committed by the military are culpable, and not intentional, as was ruled by the first instance of the Military Court.
Lieutenant Ítalo da Silva, responsible for the operation, had his 31-year prison sentence reduced to three years and seven months. Another seven soldiers had their sentences reduced from 28 years to three years.
Indemnity
In April last year, the Federal Attorney General’s Office (AGU) closed a deal to pay compensation to the families of the victims.
The amount was divided as follows: R$493,000 will go to Luciano’s mother, Aparecida Macedo; R$123.2 thousand for each of the three sisters; R$21,700 in delayed lifetime pension; R$3,500 to pay funeral expenses and R$76,400 for legal fees.
An agreement along the same lines must be reached with family members of musician Evaldo Santos.
