Érika Souza Vieira Nunes, 42 years old, — niece who took her uncle, the elderly Paulo Roberto Braga, 68 years old, to get a loan from a bank, when he was already dead — became investigated for the crime of culpable homicide, when there is no intention to kill. She was already being investigated for vilification of a corpse and attempted theft by fraud. Érika was arrested in the act after the crime and had her arrest converted into preventative arrest during a custody hearing.
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An order made by delegate Fabio Luiz Souza, head of the 34th DP (Bangu), responsible for the investigations, and published by TV Globo, points to a “glaring omission of help” on the part of Érika. According to the police chief, Paulo was in a “huge life-threatening situation”:
“Considering that on 4/16/2024, certainly realizing that Paulo was in a serious life-threatening situation, which can be seen from the statements of all the witnesses who had contact with the victim, instead of going to the hospital again, she went to the shopping mall, configuring a blatant failure to provide assistance, I determine; a new incident must be registered to investigate the crime of culpable homicide,” she wrote.
Also according to TV Globo, the first phase of the investigation, which refers to Érika’s arrest in the act, was concluded on Tuesday. After the second phase, which will investigate manslaughter, the police will decide whether the elderly man’s niece will be charged with the crimes.
