Two defendants convicted for murdering Brazilian Amazon activists

Brasília – Lindonjonson Silva Rocha and Alberto Lopes do Nascimento were found guilty of murdering Amazon activist leaders José Cláudio Ribeiro and Maria do Espírito Santo. They were shot to death in May, 2011 in a settlement in Nova Ipixuna, southwestern Pará. The couple used to live on nut extraction in Praialta-Piranheira, a forest reserve in Brazilian Amazon, and had been receiving constant death threats for reporting illegal logging activities in the area. Prosecutor Ana Maria Magalhães de Carvalho reports that the suspected mastermind José Rodrigues Moreira had acquired land from a “grileiro” (a criminal figure in Brazil who forges documents to pass as landowners of third parties’ property). José Claudio and Maria had infiltrated laborers on the property, and after failing attempts to evict them, Rodrigues decided to kill them.

The trial took place at the Court of Marabá (PA), Brazil, and finished on Thursday (4) evening. Lindonjonson was sentenced to 42 years and eight months, whereas Alberto’s sentence is 45 years. The jury charged Alberto with cutting off José Cláudio’s ears. José Rodrigues Moreira, suspected of masterminding, hiring, and arranging the crime, was acquitted.

Prosecutor Ana Maria Magalhães de Carvalho has appealed against the acquittal, claiming that there is enough evidence for conviction. The defense appealed against Lindonjonson’s and Alberto’s conviction.

Editors: José Romildo/ Nira Foster

Translator: Mayra Borges