The trial of former councilor Jairo Souza Santos Júnior, Dr. Jairinho, and Monique Medeiros for the death of the boy Henry Borel entered its fourth day this Thursday (28), at the II Jury Court, in downtown Rio.
The session resumed around 10:30 AM, 90 minutes late after a juror fell ill in the courtroom. The jury is expected to hear from women who had relationships with Jairinho and reported episodes of violence attributed to the former congressman before Henry's death in March 2021.
Former stepdaughter recounts abuse and fear.
The first witness heard in this stage of the jury trial, 18-year-old Kaylane, Jairinho's former stepdaughter, stated in her testimony that she was a victim of aggression during the period she lived with the former councilman, who had a relationship with her mother.
The young woman recounted episodes of physical violence and said that, at the time, she did not report it out of fear. In previous testimonies, she had already mentioned situations such as attempted drowning and recurring assaults.
She stated that Jairinho used to complain that his presence "disrupted" his mother's life and relationship.
"He used to say that if I didn't exist, things would be much better. That I was a hindrance to her, that if it were just him and my mother, her life would be much better."
According to Kaylane, the silence regarding the assaults was motivated by fear of retaliation and by the family relationship involving her mother and the former parliamentarian.
In 2021, the Public Prosecutor's Office had already filed charges against the then-councilman for allegedly torturing the girl when she was only 5 years old. In the indictment, prosecutors state that Jairinho committed various types of assaults, "hitting the victim's head against various places, kicking and punching the child's stomach, as well as submerging her in the pool by placing his foot on her stomach."
The jury should hear from other ex-girlfriends of Jairinho.
In addition to Kaylane, the schedule for this Thursday also includes testimonies from Natasha and Débora, who had relationships with Jairinho, and from another witness who is also expected to be heard by the Jury.
The defense of the former councilman once again included the firm's lead lawyer at this stage, who had stepped aside after suffering a heart attack in the days leading up to the start of the trial.
Remember the accusations.
Jairinho and Monique are charged with aggravated homicide, torture, coercion during legal proceedings, and procedural fraud. According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, Henry was subjected to assaults inside the apartment where he lived with his mother and then-stepfather, in Barra da Tijuca, in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
The complaint alleges that Jairinho was responsible for the assaults that caused 23 injuries and the death of the child, while Monique allegedly remained silent in the face of the violence to preserve her relationship with the then-councilman.
The third day was marked by clashes.
The third day of the trial, which ended on Wednesday night (27), was marked by clashes between prosecution and defense, technical discussions and testimonies considered central to the investigation.
One of the key witnesses heard was psychiatrist Rafael Bernardon, who stated that he perceived in Jairinho a behavior that would indicate "pleasure in inflicting pain" on children. The statement provoked an immediate reaction from the former councilman's defense, which contested the legitimacy of the assessment and classified the statement as a "personal impression."
The discussions led Judge Elizabeth Machado Louro to interrupt the debates at several points.
"If we keep debating the sex of angels, this trial will never end," the judge stated during the session.
Also on Wednesday, Jairinho's defense team obtained two favorable rulings from the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. One authorized the testimony of a witness previously barred by the judge in the case. The other determined that the former councilman's interrogation will only take place after Monique Medeiros' testimony.
Doctor detailed Henry's care.
Also on the third day of the trial, Dr. Maria Cristina Souza Azevedo, who was responsible for Henry's care at Barra D'Or Hospital, stated that the boy arrived at the unit without vital signs.
According to the witness, the medical team performed resuscitation maneuvers for about two hours, without success.
The doctor also reported that Henry had purple marks on his chest, abdomen, wrists, and thighs. She also stated that Monique appeared to be in shock after the confirmation of her son's death.
"She was in shock, she seemed unable to believe it," he stated.
During the testimony, the prosecution showed a video of Henry dancing at his father Leniel Borel's house the day before his death. Monique cried in the courtroom while watching the footage.
The trial could last more than a week.
The trial is being conducted by Judge Elizabeth Machado Louro and could last up to ten days. The fate of the defendants will be decided by seven jurors.
If the conviction results in a sentence exceeding 15 years, the court may order the immediate imprisonment of the accused while the defendants are still in the courtroom.
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