Flávio Bolsonaro defends police officer accused of killing child

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro has faced scrutiny for his legal involvement in the case of Bruno Dias Delaroli, a military police officer accused of killing five-year-old Ana Clara Gomes Machado in Niterói, Brazil.

The incident occurred on February 2, 2021, when the child was struck by rifle shots while playing outside her home in the Monan Pequeno community. According to the Public Ministry, the shots originated from Delaroli’s weapon during a patrol. While the officer was initially held in preventive detention, he has since been released pending trial.

As a lawyer, Flávio Bolsonaro signed a resource submitted to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) in an attempt to overturn a decision that mandated the officer be judged by a jury of peers. Although the STJ rejected this request, the case has not yet reached a final trial. The matter resurfaced in public debate following recent political discussions, highlighting the ongoing legal struggle for the victim's family.