Brazilian court begins trial of Nucleus 4 coup plot defendants
On Tuesday (Oct. 14), the First Panel of Brazil’s Federal Supreme Court began the trial of the criminal case against Nucleus 4 of the coup plot that occurred during former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration.
The panel members will decide whether to convict seven defendants accused by the Attorney General’s Office of running disinformation campaigns to spread fake news about the 2022 elections and launch online attacks on institutions and authorities.
This nucleus includes Ailton Gonçalves Moraes Barros (Army reserve major); Ângelo Martins Denicoli (Army reserve major); Giancarlo Gomes Rodrigues (Army sergeant); Guilherme Marques de Almeida (Army lieutenant colonel); Reginaldo Vieira de Abreu (Army colonel); Marcelo Araújo Bormevet (federal police officer); and Carlos Cesar Moretzsohn Rocha (president of the Voto Legal Institute).
They are charged with armed criminal organization, attempted violent overthrow of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, aggravated property damage caused by violence and serious threats, and deterioration of listed heritage sites.
Session
The first day will be devoted to the defense and prosecution arguments, which will be presented by the Public Prosecutor’s Office. Voting will take place in subsequent sessions.
Three more sessions have been scheduled to conclude the trial, to be held on October 15, 21, and 22.
The panel consists of Alexandre de Moraes, the case rapporteur, and Justices Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, Luiz Fux, and Cármen Lúcia.
Other Nuclei
So far, only Nucleus 1, which includes former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven other defendants, has been convicted.
In addition to Nucleus 4, Nuclei 2 and 3 will also be tried this year. The trial for Group 3 is scheduled for November 11, and Group 2 will be tried in December.
Nucleus 5 includes businessman Paulo Figueiredo, grandson of former dictator João Figueiredo. He lives in the United States and has not submitted a defense in the case. No trial date has been set.
