Bicheiro Piruinha is acquitted of accusation of the death of a trader | Rio de Janeiro

Rio – Bicheiro José Caruzzo Escafura, known as Piruinha, aged 94, was acquitted of the charge of being responsible for the death of Natalino José do Nascimento Espínola, known as Neto, who owned a car store. The trial took place this Thursday (25).

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Monalizza Neves Escafura, Piruinha’s daughter, and military police officer Jeckson Lima Pereira, who provided security at the bookstore, were also tried for involvement in the merchant’s death and acquitted by the jury. The information is from G1 news portal.

With the acquittal, the court revoked the preventive arrests of Piruinha and her daughter. Furthermore, the precautionary measures that had been imposed against the three defendants were overturned, such as the seizure of assets and valuables.

The crime occurred in July 2021, on Estrada Intendente Magalhães, in Vila Valqueire, West Zone of Rio. According to a complaint from the Public Ministry of Rio (MPRJ), the motivation for the crime was a debt of R$500,000. On the 9th, the trial was postponed.

Piruinha participated in the trial via videoconference from a hospital bed and was not questioned. The offender’s defense claimed that there was a lack of police investigation into the case and denied his involvement.

The defense of the bicheiro’s daughter also followed the same line and denied any involvement with the merchant’s death. The PM was interrogated and said that he did not participate in the crime and did not work for Piruinha.

Remember the case

According to the complaint, at the behest of bicheiro Piruinha and his daughter, private security guard and PM Jeckson Lima Pereira allegedly executed Neto, who owned a car store.

The MP pointed out that the crime was committed for a base reason, as the victim was killed for not paying a monetary debt he owed to criminals in the city.

Piruinha’s family would have suffered millionaire losses due to Natalino José’s venture into a construction company. Currently “manager” of the Escafura family’s business, the bookie’s daughter began to seek, without success, compensation for the losses.

Natalino was the grandson of Natal da Portela, patron of Oswaldo Cruz’s samba school, and was given the same name as his grandfather. He was also the nephew of Nezio Nascimento, honorary president of the Tradição Samba School. The victim was the target of 14 legal proceedings.

Who is Piruinha?

Piruinha has dominated the animal game for decades, which is played in various regions of the city, especially in the neighborhoods of Madureira, Abolição, Cascadura, Maria da Graça, Piedade and Inhaúma. In addition, he receives other areas for exploiting gambling for other criminals, including the borders with the neighborhoods of Cascadura, Piedade, Pilares, Abolição, Quintino, Campinho and Praça Seca.

Parallel to the game, I explored other activities, such as motels in neighborhoods in the West Zone. The booker was also investigated for an alleged connection with a clandestine abortion ring.