João Hélio Fernandes Vieites

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João Hélio Fernandes Vieites.

João Hélio Fernandes Vieites (March 18, 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. His murderers were Diego Nascimento da Silva, Carlos Eduardo Toledo Lima (who announced the highjacking), Carlos Roberto da Silva (who pointed a gun to Hélio's mother) and Tiago de Abreu Matos (who stole the vehicle).^[1]

[edit] Hélio's Murder

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 (11,2 miles) 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 tried to warn them, a man in a motorcycle even chased the car to let them know that a child was literally dangling, but he was threatened by a gun.^[2] 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.

[edit] The thieves judgement

All four thieves were sentenced, together, to 167 and 3 months of prison, by judge Marcela Assad Karam. Diego Nascimento da Silva was sentenced to 44 years and 3 months, Carlos Eduardo Toledo Lima, to 45 years, Carlos Roberto da Silva, to 39 years and Tiago de Abreu Matos, to 39 years.^[3]