Maceió jury trial begins for fatal 2021 drunk driving accident

The jury trial for Sérgio Praxedes dos Santos Filho began on Monday in Maceió, Brazil, regarding a fatal accident on Fernandes Lima Avenue that occurred on July 23, 2021. The defendant, a banker, is accused of causing the collision while intoxicated.

The accident resulted in the deaths of Pedro Alves de Souza Júnior and José Cícero da Silva, and left Quitéria Gonçalves Amorim with physical sequelae. During the proceedings at the Barro Duro Forum, family members of the victims expressed their grief and called for justice.

Lilian Michely, daughter of José Cícero, stated that the defendant was released shortly after the incident and has been living freely while the families continue to suffer. Maria Ângela, mother of Pedro, also spoke about the lasting impact of the tragedy on her family and grandchildren.