Paraíba court sentences adolescent to detention for hotel homicide

A court in Paraíba has sentenced an adolescent from Rio Grande do Norte to up to three years of socio-educational detention for the murder of 33-year-old Washington Rodrigo. The crime took place in July at a hotel in the Manaíra neighborhood of João Pessoa.

Judge Luiz Eduardo Souto ruled the act was analogous to qualified homicide, citing futile motives, cruel methods, and the use of resources that prevented the victim from defending himself. Forensic evidence from the Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) determined the cause of death was asphyxiation caused by strangulation with a hair dryer cord. The victim was found handcuffed and showing signs of torture.

Police investigations revealed that the victim and the adolescent met through a dating application. During the encounter, the youth used a replica firearm and handcuffs to subdue the victim. The adolescent, who had 17 prior records of infractions in Rio Grande do Norte, surrendered to police in Caicó shortly after the crime. The defense stated it will appeal the decision, questioning the proportionality of the sentence.