TJDFT upholds conviction of drunk driver in fatal Varjão accident

The Court of Justice of the Federal District and Territories (TJDFT) has upheld the conviction of a driver responsible for a fatal accident in Varjão that killed 16-year-old Ashley Nicoly dos Santos Lopes in April 2025.

The court unanimously rejected the defense's appeal, which had attempted to shift blame to the victim by alleging excessive speed on the motorcycle. Instead, judges ruled that the driver's decision to drive under the influence of alcohol and travel against the flow of traffic made the collision unavoidable. A breathalyzer test recorded 1.24 mg of alcohol per liter of alveolar air, significantly exceeding legal limits. The driver was sentenced to five years of imprisonment in a semi-open regime, with a two-year driver's license suspension.