Fourth stage of the Carandiru massacre trials begins

Twelve GATE special tactics police officers are standing trial starting on Monday (Mar. 17). They are charged with murder of ten inmates and attempted murder of another three in the now-defunct Carandiru penitentiary. This is the fourth phase of a trial which is expected to last for about 5 days.

The Carandiru massacre took place on October 2, 1992, when 111 inmates were killed and 87 wounded during a police storming to quell a prison riot in block 9 of the Carandiru prison, north São Paulo.

Because of the large number of defendants and victims involved, the trial was split into four rounds, based on the events that took place in each of the four cell floors that made up block 9.

Once the seven members of the jury are drawn, the trial begins with the hearing of five prosecution witnesses, then six defense witnesses, and finally, the defendants.

*With additional reporting by Elaine Patrícia Cruz.

Translated by Mayra Borges