Brazil Supreme Court issues sentences for January 8 attackers

The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has issued rulings regarding individuals involved in the January 8, 2023, attacks in Brasília.

A resident of Taubaté was sentenced to 14 years in prison for crimes including armed criminal association, attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, coup d'état, and damage to federal property. The court also ordered the defendant to pay R$ 30 million in collective moral damages. The decision followed the rapporteur's vote, with six ministers in agreement and three voting for acquittal.

In a separate case, the STF plenary voted 6 to 4 to reduce the sentence for Simone Macedo, who was sentenced to one year of open regime for criminal association and inciting animosity against the Armed Forces. The court reversed a decision by rapporteur Alexandre de Moraes, who had refused to credit time spent under nocturnal restrictions with an electronic ankle monitor toward the final sentence. Justice Cristiano Zanin led the divergence, arguing that such precautionary measures impose a degree of restriction equivalent to the open regime, necessitating proportionality in sentencing.