Mato Grosso do Sul court moves homicide trial to Dourados

The Court of Justice of Mato Grosso do Sul (TJMS) has ordered that Willian Rafael Rodrigues Gauto be tried by a jury in the Comarca of Dourados rather than Sete Quedas. The decision follows a request by the Public Ministry of Mato Grosso do Sul (MPMS) to move the trial, a measure known as 'desaforamento'.

The prosecution argued that the local community in Sete Quedas might lack impartiality due to the high profile of the case, local fear, and the perceived danger of the accused. The judge in Sete Quedas supported this view, noting that concerns regarding juror impartiality were based on concrete elements from the proceedings rather than mere conjecture.

While the rule typically requires trials to occur where the crime was committed, the TJMS unanimously ruled that the potential for compromised decisions necessitated the transfer to Dourados. Gauto is accused of two attempted homicides involving gunfire that occurred in December 2025.