Brazilian courts deny appeals in high-profile homicide cases

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) has unanimously decided to maintain the jurisdiction of São Luís for the trial of former councilman Welson Lopes de Andrade, known as ‘Efim’. The court rejected a defense appeal to move the case from the Comarca of Paulo Ramos. Andrade is accused of murdering his stepmother, Rosilene Feitosa Rodrigues, in February 2012. The case will proceed to a Jury Tribunal.

Separately, the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) unanimously rejected an appeal by Marvin Henriques Correia regarding the ‘Pioz Massacre’. Correia is accused of aiding and encouraging the 2016 murders of several family members in Pioz, Spain. The STJ ruled that the case does not qualify for review by the Supreme Federal Court, as the defense's arguments required a re-examination of facts already evaluated by previous judicial instances. The case will now return to the first instance for further procedural steps.