February 5, 2022

08:02

Iury Lima – Cenarium Magazine

VILHENA (RO) – A 28-year-old man killed the woman with whom he had an extramarital relationship in Pimenta Bueno, 522 kilometers from Porto Velho, in the countryside of Rondônia, because he did not want to assume paternity of the child, which they would have together, in addition to an attempt to preserve his own marriage.

The body of Antonieli Nunes Martins, 32 years old, was found last Thursday, 3, after relatives went to her house, worried by her absence at work and the lack of return to messages and calls. The relatives found the door of the residence unlocked and Antonieli’s body on the bed.  She leaves behind her three-year-old son.

According to the clarification note of the law firm representing the victim’s family, to which CENARIUM MAGAZINE had access, the author of the crime, Gabriel Henrique Santos Souza, appeared at the Civil Police (PC) station, confessed the murder, but was not immediately arrested, because the period of flagrante delicto had already passed. However, he had his preventive detention decreed this Friday, 4, and is already in the prison system.

“After the decree of preventive detention, it was informed by the lawyer who represents Gabriel, that he would present himself at the Unisp [Integrated Unit of Public Safety] of Rolim de Moura/RO, city where he has been since 02/03/2022, being known to the authorities. Given the presentation and arrest that occurred on this date, Gabriel is in custody at the disposal of Justice”, says the document.

The crime

Antonieli would have recently discovered the pregnancy resulting from the relationship and charged Gabriel with paternity. According to witnesses, they were co-workers and would have met at her house on Wednesday night, 2, when the crime occurred. During an argument, Gabriel strangled Antonieli and struck a single knife blow to the victim’s neck.

According to the police, the investigation will remain under judicial secrecy. The case is being treated as a feminicide and the murderer should be indicted, including aggravating factors, because the victim was pregnant and because the barbarity was committed for “vile motive”.

Social commotion

Family members, friends, and several other people from civil society express revolt and call for justice in social networks. “What cruelty they did to this woman. My cousin. This is a monster (…) and he wasn’t even arrested, where is the justice?”, wrote Maurício José da Silva, Antonieli’s cousin, on Facebook.

Rondônia state lawmaker Jean Mendonça (Podemos Party) also spoke out. “To family and friends we deeply regret your loss and wish that mourning and time will ease your pain and bring peace to your heart again”, wrote the politician.

“We will not be silent”, published another internet user, who called for attention from Justice. In addition, Instagram users planned to hold a demonstration in front of the Civil Police Station of Pimenta Bueno on the afternoon of Friday, 4. However, the protests were canceled after Gabriel’s remand in custody.

“We earnestly request that no demonstration of any kind be held, since the response of Justice occurred at the time the arrest was decreed (…) and Gabriel is already awaiting trial in the form of Law”, said the note from the lawyer of Antonieli’s family.

Gabriel’s father asks for forgiveness

Evangelical pastor and father of the author of the crime, Julio Cesar Silva Souza published a video on Friday afternoon, 4, crying and asking for forgiveness to Antoneli’s family. “I am very sorry for what happened. May God, through the Holy Spirit, comfort the heart of the whole family, of the whole society (…) We are not putting our hands on our son’s head (…) We have hired a lawyer to accompany him, so that he can be judged according to the law, not by popular appreciation or anything like that”, he said. 

“It’s being very difficult for us, that’s why we’re taking so long to position ourselves before society (…) it seems like we’re in a nightmare”, continued the pastor.

Watch the video in full: