The Pernambuco Court of Justice rejected by 6 votes to 5 the infringement appeals filed by Sari Corte Real's defense, upholding her seven-year prison sentence in an initially closed regime for the death of five-year-old Miguel Otávio Santana da Silva. The decision was announced Thursday (21) by Judge Mauro Alencar de Barros, president of the Criminal Section, after a trial lasting about 1h30. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"De acordo com o tribunal, os desembargadores decidiram, por 6 votos a 5, pela rejeição dos embargos infringentes interpostos pelos advogados de Sari. O voto de desempate coube ao presidente da Seção Criminal, o desembargador Mauro Alencar de Barros, que negou o recurso de Sari."
The defense had requested a reduction of the sentence to six years in prison and an initially semi-open regime, arguing that Miguel's age of 5 should not aggravate the sentence as it already forms part of the criminal offense of abandoning an incapacitated person. Initially there was a 5-5 tie among the judges on this argument, but the president's tie-breaking vote denied the appeal. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Nos embargos, ele pediu que a pena fosse reduzida para 6 anos de prisão. De acordo com o TJ, houve um empate no julgamento. Cinco desembargadores entenderam que o fato de a vítima ter 5 anos não agravava a pena e, por isso, votaram a favor do pedido da defesa."
The case began in June 2020, when Miguel fell from the ninth floor of a building in downtown Recife while under Sari's care, then first lady of Tamandaré. The child went up alone in the elevator while his mother, domestic worker Mirtes Renata Santana de Souza, was walking the employers' dogs. The fall was from approximately 35 meters high. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"A morte de Miguel Otávio Santana da Silva ocorreu em 2 de junho de 2020 e ganhou repercussão nacional. O menino, de apenas cinco anos, caiu do nono andar de um edifício de luxo conhecido como "Torres Gêmeas", no bairro de São José, área central do Recife, enquanto estava sob os cuidados de Sari Corte Real, então primeira-dama de Tamandaré."
Sari was initially sentenced to eight years and six months in prison in the first instance, a sentence later reduced to seven years by the TJ-PE itself. The defense can still appeal to the Superior Court of Justice and the Federal Supreme Court. She remains free during the appeals process, a situation that was not changed by Thursday's decision. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Sari Corte Real foi denunciada pelo Ministério Público de Pernambuco (MPPE) por abandono de incapaz com resultado morte. Em 2022, ela foi condenada em primeira instância a oito anos e seis meses de prisão. Posteriormente, a pena foi reduzida para sete anos de reclusão em julgamento realizado pelo TJPE."
The decision was taken by 6 votes to 5, with tie-breaking vote by Judge Mauro Alencar de Barros
Defense argued that Miguel's age of 5 should not aggravate the sentence as it already forms part of the criminal offense
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (2)
There was oral argument by lawyer Jailson Rocha, prosecution assistant representing Miguel's mother
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What were the individual votes of the 11 judges and their respective legal reasoning?
Why it's still unknown: Sources only report the final score (6x5) and mention the initial tie, but do not detail individual votes or specific reasoning of each judge.
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What was exactly the doctrinal test applied by the court to evaluate arguments about age aggravation?
Why it's still unknown: Articles do not specify which legal framework or precedents were invoked by judges to decide whether victim's age constitutes an aggravating factor or element already integrated into the criminal offense.
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What are the deadlines and next procedural steps for potential appeals to STJ and STF?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention that defense can still appeal to higher courts, but do not specify deadlines or specific procedures.