Three military policemen and one businessmen are charged for the murder of Brazilian Journalist

After two days of trial, three military policemen and a businessman were considered guilty by the people´s jury, for the murder of the journalist Carlos Barbon Filho in the city of Porto Ferreira, in the southeastern state of São Paulo, Brazil. The decision was announced by the judge Cassiano Ricardo Zorzi Rocha, on the night of Saturday, 27. According to the police, the 37 year old journalist was shot by two men in a motorcycle on the 6th of may, 2007, while sitting in front of a bar. Barbon contributed to the media outlets Radio Porto FM, Jornal do Porto and JC Regional.

The police sergeant Edson Luis Ronceiro, the captain Adélcio Carlos Avelino and the businessman Carlos Alberto da Costa were sentenced for murder, constitution of criminal group, and attempt of murder against Alcides Catarino, also known as Paquito, shot in a separate incident that happened on the same day of the murder, with the same gun. All of them were charged with 18 years and four months of prison. The soldier Paulo César Ronceiro, also involved on the crime, was not charged by the crime of constitution of a criminal group.

According to the State´s Public Ministry, the murder was a response to articles the journalist had been publishing regarding irregularities amongst local policemen, authorities and businessmen. At the time it occurred, the murder was classified by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as an attack to the freedom of expression.

In August, 2003, Barbon exposed a scheme of under age prostitution involving four businessman, five deputies and a waiter from the city. At the time, they were arrested under the accusation of taking part in parties with the under aged in a farm nearby Mogi Guaçú river. The case had nationwide repercussion.

The sergeant Edson Luís Ronceiro is accused of receiving the weapon soon after the crime and of assisting to the group´s escape. The soldier Paulo César Ronceiro is accused of driving the motorcycle that transported the captain Adélcio Carlos Avelino, accused of coordinating the crime. The businessman Carlos Alberto da Costa is accused of owning the weapon used on the crime.

A fourth policeman, the soldier Valnei Bertoni, suspect of shooting the journalist, is due to go on trial separately.

The criminals had already been preemptively arrested on the 4th of march, 2008.

In January of 2009, Barbon´s wife, Kátia Camargo, entered a Witness Protection Program, since she had been receiving threats.