João Hélio Fernandes Vieites

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

João Hélio Fernandes Vieites (March, 2000–February 7, 2007) was a Brazilian boy from Rio de Janeiro who was brutally murdered during a motor vehicle theft. His death sparked a series of public protests and debates throughout Brazil demanding an end to violence and ammendements to the constitution and penal code to increase the punishment of criminals involved in brutal crimes.

João Hélio was riding in the backseat of his mother's car as they drove home from a religious center. In the car were also a family friend and his 13 year old sister. The car was approached by a taxi cab, from which 3 young men climbed down, pointing a gun. They surrendered the car and forced everyone to come out. João Hélio's mom rushed to the backseat to unbuckle the seatbelt that João Hélio had on asking her daughter (João Hélio's Sister) for help, but the carthieves took off before they could free the child. João Hélio was left hanging outside the car, held by the seatbelt at his waist. He was dragged for 7km before the thieves finally abandoned the car with the child's dilacerated body still attached to it.

As they drove on, many people spotted "something" hanging from the car and trid to warn them, a man in a motorcycle even chased the car to let them know that a child was literally dangling. The thieves pointed a gun to the man and yelled "that is a Judas doll". Witnesses report that the child's body tompled over many times and that its head hit the pavement as well the car itself. The silver Corsa Sedan had the child's bloodstains all over its back exterior.

The thieves were all under 21, one of them was actually under 18. It is reported that after brutally murdering the child they went home and ate dinner with their oblivious parents before attending a local church party. The family of one of the thieves turned them in once they found out the truth, and less than 8 hours after the murder they had already been caught by the police. The 16 year old is supposed to go to a juvenile reform center and the others are to be tried and sent to jail.