STF hears 8/1 accused and foresees trials in a month – 08/04/2023 – Power

The office of Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the STF (Federal Supreme Court), has completed the instruction phase of 228 criminal cases against those accused of the January 8 coup attacks and should already release the cases for trial within 30 days.

In the instruction phase, both the victim and the prosecution present evidence in the process, such as witnesses and documents. Then the judge or a court decides on the case.

According to the Supreme Court, between June 26 and August 1, hearings were held to hear prosecution and defense witnesses and to interrogate the defendants. During this period, 719 hearings were held.

The Supreme catalogs the hearing of 386 witnesses indicated by the defenses by auxiliary judges in Moraes’ office. The PGR (Attorney General’s Office) indicated 21 witnesses.

The first trials will be for criminal actions against people who are arrested on charges of more serious crimes, such as armed criminal association, attempted coup d’état, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and deterioration of listed property.

There is also an accusation of a crime of damage qualified by violence and serious threat with the use of a flammable substance against the assets of the Union and with considerable damage.

In instructional hearings, held by videoconference, the prosecution witnesses are heard first and then those of the defense. Finally, the defendant is questioned.

According to the STF, during this period defense lawyers were able to talk privately with their clients through restricted links and individual rooms made available in the prisons of Papuda and Colmeia, in the Federal District, where they are imprisoned.

In all, 1,390 people were denounced by the PGR for involvement in the attacks. In statements about the case, the Attorney General’s Office stated that there was a set of evidence to support the accusation, such as images, messages and testimonies.

The material points to the existence of a stable and permanent situation of an association formed by hundreds of people to attack the institutions.