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Jeff Machado Case: Judge denies new requests from defendant's defense and demands final arguments in the case

Jeff Machado Case: Judge denies new requests from defendant's defense and demands final arguments in the case

1 of 4 Jeff Machado — Photo: Reproduction/Social Media

Jeff Machado — Photo: Reproduction/Social Media

The objective of the judge of the 1st Criminal Court is to determine whether Bruno and Jeander da Silva Braga, who are responsible for the crimes, will be indicted and taken to a jury trial, on a date to be defined.

Jeander's defense, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and Jeff's mother, through the prosecution's assistance, have already presented their closing arguments.

Recently, Bruno Souza's defense presented a series of requests for new technical investigations and argued that several pieces of evidence should be annulled.

However, Judge Thiago Portes stated that the measures served to delay the process, and that the breaking of Bruno's data confidentiality and other steps were authorized by the Court.

"From reading the document presented by the Defense, it can be seen that the requested steps are clearly dilatory," said the judge.

"Therefore, given the lack of demonstration by the Defense of the need to produce expert evidence, I deny the request. Let Bruno's defense present its final arguments."

2 of 4 Bruno de Souza Rodrigues before and after his arrest for the death of actor Jeff Machado — Photo: Reproduction

Bruno de Souza Rodrigues before and after his arrest for the death of actor Jeff Machado — Photo: Reproduction

Bruno is responsible for the following crimes:

  • Quadruple-qualified homicide (vile motive, use of asphyxiation, use of a resource that prevented the victim from defending herself and to take advantage of another crime);
  • Concealment of the corpse (buried the body in a chest 2 meters deep);
  • Fraud;
  • Property crimes against the actor's estate (looting, attempted sale of the car and house, credit card purchases);
  • Electronic device hacking (got into Jeff's social media after his death;
  • False identity (by impersonating Jeff Machado);
  • Animal cruelty.

Jeander, in turn, is responsible for the crimes of:

  • qualified homicide
  • concealment of a corpse
  • animal cruelty.

3 of 4 Bruno Rodrigues, accused of being the murderer of actor Jeff Machado, was arrested in June 2023 in Vidigal — Photo: CARLOS ELIAS JUNIOR/FOTOARENA/FOTOARENA/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

Bruno Rodrigues, accused of being the murderer of actor Jeff Machado, was arrested in June 2023 in Vidigal — Photo: CARLOS ELIAS JUNIOR/FOTOARENA/FOTOARENA/ESTADÃO CONTEÚDO

Bruno's defense stated, in a request made on July 8 of this year, that it did not have access to the material produced in the investigative phase before the evidentiary hearing, and that it wanted more information about Jeff's relationships and telephone records, as well as other forensic evidence.

However, the request was denied , and the judge ordered the lawyers to present their closing arguments.

For the Public Prosecutor's Office, there is evidence of authorship, materiality, typicality, unlawfulness and guilt against Jeander and Bruno.

There is evidence, according to the Public Prosecutor's Office, that the homicide was qualified by the use of a resource that made it difficult for the victim to defend himself (Jeff was drugged and attacked from behind during sexual intercourse), by asphyxiation (telephone cord around his neck), and by a futile motive (to hide the blow and obtain financial advantages).

The prosecution believes that the crime was premeditated and that Bruno even invented the theory of a fictitious militia member, called Marcelo, to cover up his true participation in the crime .

The character that never existed would have taken revenge for allegedly being infected with HIV by the victim.

The prosecution, representing Marina, Jeff's mother, requested that the defendants be indicted so that they can be brought to the jury trial.

Jeander's defense, in its closing arguments, claims that Jeff was killed solely and exclusively by Bruno Souza , and that Jeander only helped to hide the body.

The inmate claims he only met the victim on the day of the crime and had no motive to murder the actor. The defense requests that Jeander be acquitted.

4 of 4 Jeff Machado's body was found inside the actor's own trunk. — Photo: Reproduction

Jeff Machado's body was found inside the actor's own trunk. — Photo: Reproduction

Actor Jeff Machado disappeared at the end of January 2023. His body was found buried two meters deep, inside a concrete trunk in a house in Campo Grande, in the West Zone.

Police believe the motive for the crime was that the actor had falsely promised Bruno a role in a soap opera . Investigators believe Jeff paid the criminals R$18,000.

With experience in journalism, acting and other areas, the actor from Record's "Reis" had disappeared after leaving a house in the West Zone of Rio.

In Santa Catarina, he worked as a social columnist in magazines in Rio do Sul, in the Itajaí Valley, and Florianópolis.

He left his home state in 1997, when he began to become a professional, studying acting and other subjects, such as law, social communication and acting.

In 2008, after 10 years living in the Rio de Janeiro-São Paulo region, he moved to Florianópolis. In the capital of Santa Catarina, he worked as a press officer, producer, art director, set designer, window dresser, and stylist for campaigns, events, fashion shows, music videos, and TV shows.

In the state, he also volunteered as a press officer and producer at charity events.

Rio de Janeiro returned to Jeff's home in July 2014. In the soap opera “Reis”, which premiered in March 2022, Machado played a Philistine soldier.

He was also known for his love of animals and had eight pet dogs. The family only learned of their disappearance after the animals were found abandoned in Rio de Janeiro's West Zone—two animals died and one was never found.

The dogs, tagged with the actor's name, were crucial in solving the crime.

Globo

Globo

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