Murder of João Hélio Fernandes Vieites

João Hélio Fernandes Vieites was a 6 year-old boy from a middle-class Brazilian family in Rio de Janeiro who was killed as part of a motor vehicle hijacking on February 7, 2007 in the Zona Norte (North Zone) of Rio de Janeiro. The callous manner in which the child was murdered shocked the Brazilian public.^{[1] [2]} The crime sparked a series of public protests and debates throughout Brazil demanding an end to violence and amendments to the constitution and penal code to increase the punishment of criminals involved in brutal crimes. His murderers were Diego Nascimento da Silva, Carlos Eduardo Toledo Lima (who announced the highjacking), Carlos Roberto da Silva (who pointed a gun at Hélio's mother) and Tiago de Abreu Matos (who stole the vehicle).^[3][4]

Hélio's murder

João Hélio, age 6, was riding in the backseat of his mother's car, a Corsa Sedan, as they drove home from a religious center located in Bento Ribeiro. Also in the car were a family friend and João Hélio's 13-year-old sister, Aline. As they drove on Avenida João Vicente in the Oswaldo Cruz (Rio de Janeiro) neighborhood, five young men emerged from a taxi, three of them pointing guns. They surrounded the family's car and forced everyone to get out. João Hélio's mother rushed to the backseat to unbuckle João Hélio from his seat belt, asking her daughter Aline for help. The car thieves accelerated the vehicle before they could free the child. João Hélio was left hanging outside the car, held by the seat belt at his waist. He was dragged for 7 km (4.3 mi) before the thieves finally abandoned the car with the child's body still attached to it.^[5] The thieves ended up traversing four different neighborhoods: Oswaldo Cruz, Madureira, Campinho, and Cascadura. When they passed in front of two different corner bars on the corners of Cândido Bastos and Silva Gomes streets, and Barbosa and Florentina, patrons were horrified by what they were seeing and shouted frantically at the car's occupants to stop the car.^[6] One man on a motorcycle even chased the car to let them know that a child was literally dangling, but he was threatened by a gun.^[7] The motorcyclist later testified that once he got up close he could see that João Hélio was deceased at that point. At the time of the incident, Police Chief Hercules Pires do Nascimento stated that the thieves were very aware of the fact that they were dragging a child, and even drove in a zig-zag fashion trying to get rid of him. He added that their demeanor was cold and indifferent.^[8] At one point one of the thieves shouted to those attempting to alert them, "That's not a child, it's a Judas doll."^[9] Witnesses reported that the child's body toppled over many times and that his head hit the pavement as well the car itself - a situation aggravated by numerous speed bumps along the route the thieves took.^[10]The silver Corsa Sedan had the child's bloodstains all over its back exterior. They finally came to a stop on Caiari street, where witnesses said that they calmly disappeared up the steps at Três Lagoas square in Cascadura.^[11][12] João Hélio's body, now mangled, was left still hanging next to the car.

The thieves were all under 21. One of them was under 18, the Brazilian age of criminal and civil responsibility. After killing the child they went home to have dinner with their parents before attending a local church party.^[13] The family of one of the thieves turned them in once they found out the truth. Less than 8 hours after the murder they were apprehended by the 30th Precinct of Rio de Janeiro's State Police.

The trial

All four thieves were sentenced to a total of 167 years and 3 months in prison by Judge Marcela Assad Karam. Diego Nascimento da Silva was sentenced to 44 years and 3 months, Carlos Eduardo Toledo Lima to 45 years, Carlos Roberto da Silva to 39 years and Tiago de Abreu Matos to 39 years.^[3] The fifth occupant in the car, Ezequiel Toledo de Lima, who was 16 at the time of the crime, and who had confessed to being the one responsible for shutting the car door on the seat-belt, was released from confinement in 2010 upon reaching the age of 18. Due to receiving threats, he has assumed another identity with the government's assistance, and moved outside of Brazil.^[14]

See also

• Dragging death

References

1. ^ ""Eles Não Têm Coração"". 2007-02-12. http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/noblat/posts/2007/02/12/eles-nao-tem-coracao-48232.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
2. ^ "Condenado no Caso João Hélio Cumprirá Pena em Abrigo". 2010-2-10. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5skWY4Q8dXQ&feature=mh_lolz&list=HL1316946201. Retrieved 2011-9-25. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Assassinos do Menino João Hélio são Condenados - Tribuna News
4. ^ "Juntos, Acusados por Morte de João Hélio são Condenados a 167 anos de Prisão". 2008-01-03. http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/cotidiano/ult95u368324.shtml. Retrieved 2011-9-25. 
5. ^ "Nunca Mais!". 2007-02-13. http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/noblat/posts/2007/02/13/nunca-mais-48341.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
6. ^ "Memória: João Hélio Morreu Após ser Arrastado Preso ao Cinto de Segurança na Zona Norte". 2007-06-08. http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2007/06/08/296073544.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
7. ^ Armas Eram De Metal, Diz Mãe De João Hélio - Globo.com
8. ^ "Memória: João Hélio Morreu após ser Arrastado Preso ao Cinto de Segurança na Zona Norte". 2007-06-08. http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2007/06/08/296073544.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
9. ^ "Moradia no Exterior após Pena por Morte de João Hélio". 2010-02-18. http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/rio/html/2010/2/moradia_no_exterior_apos_pena_por_morte_de_joao_helio_64829.html. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
10. ^ "Polícia Já Tem um Suspeito de ter Arrastado Criança em Carro". 2007-02-08. http://odia.terra.com.br/rio/htm/geral_81304.asp. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
11. ^ "Moradia no Exterior após Pena por Morte de João Hélio". 2010-02-18. http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/rio/html/2010/2/moradia_no_exterior_apos_pena_por_morte_de_joao_helio_64829.html. Retrieved 2011-09-25. 
12. ^ "Nunca Mais!". http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/noblat/posts/2007/02/13/nunca-mais-48341.asp. 
13. ^ "Sem Limites para a Barbárie". 2007-2-14. http://veja.abril.com.br/140207/p_046.shtml. Retrieved 2011-9-25. 
14. ^ "Moradia no Exterior Após Pena por Morte de João Hélio". 2010-02-18. http://odia.terra.com.br/portal/rio/html/2010/2/moradia_no_exterior_apos_pena_por_morte_de_joao_helio_64829.html. Retrieved 2011-09-25.