(Rightallegiance.com) – In a shocking incident that disrupted the legal process in Brazil, a courtroom trial turned into a scene of chaos and violence when a man, present to witness the trial of the accused in his father’s murder, took justice into his own hands. The event unfolded in São José do Belmonte, capturing the attention of the nation as it veered from a formal trial to an unexpected attack.
The man identified as Cristiano Alves Terto, 27, launched an assault against Francisco Cleidivaldo Mariano de Moura, 38, the suspect in his father’s murder case. The attack, marked by the firing of a .38-caliber revolver half a dozen times at the defendant, was recorded by the courtroom’s CCTV cameras. The footage revealed a scene of panic as judges and members of the jury scrambled to find cover amidst the gunfire.
The intrusion and subsequent attack by Terto on November 29, 2023, raise questions about courtroom security, as it remains a mystery how he managed to enter the premises armed. The release of the CCTV footage by police on April 1, 2024, brought the incident to public light, further intensifying the scrutiny over courthouse safety measures.
After opening fire, Terto did not stop at shooting; he pursued Moura across the courtroom, assaulting him physically by hitting him on the head. On-site police intervened, chasing Terto out of the courtroom and subsequently detaining him on charges of attempted murder.
Despite the severity of the attack, Moura survived, albeit requiring immediate medical attention. He was initially taken to a local hospital before being transferred to a larger medical facility for further treatment. His discharge from the hospital was confirmed by Jam Press, though details about his condition or the extent of his injuries remain undisclosed.
The background of this tragic saga dates back to October 5, 2012, when Moura fatally shot Francisco Alves, Terto’s father. Moura, in his confession, narrated a bizarre encounter that led to the shooting. He claimed to have been searching for a lost donkey on his property when he stumbled upon Alves. According to Moura, Alves reacted aggressively, hurling insults and demanding Moura leave his property, further escalating the confrontation by arming himself with a wooden stick. Moura recounted firing warning shots before fatally wounding Alves in self-defense.
Alves succumbed to his injuries after 18 days of medical treatment, while Moura evaded capture for over a decade, hiding in Salguiero, a northern Brazilian city, until his arrest. The courtroom assault has since delayed judicial proceedings, with no retrial date scheduled for Moura.
The Pernambuco Court of Justice, in a statement to the British news outlet Metro, confirmed that the jury has yet to be reconvened and a new trial date remains pending. Meanwhile, Terto remains incarcerated, facing the consequences of his attempt to avenge his father’s death within the very walls meant to deliver justice.