Flávio Bolsonaro involvement in police officer defense resurfaces

The death of five-year-old Ana Clara Gomes Machado in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, has returned to political debate following questioning by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during a televised debate. In February 2021, the child was killed by a rifle shot while playing near her home in the Monan Pequeno community during a military police patrol.

The Rio de Janeiro Public Prosecutor's Office (MPRJ) charged Corporal Bruno Dias Delaroli with the killing, alleging he fired into a residential area despite warnings from residents about the presence of civilians. While the officer was initially held in preventive detention, he was later released under precautionary measures.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro participated in the legal defense of the officer by signing an appeal to the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) that sought to overturn a judicial decision requiring the officer to face a jury trial. The STJ rejected the appeal, maintaining the requirement for a jury trial. The case remains pending as the family continues to seek justice more than five years after the incident.