A Brazilian goalkeeper who reportedly murdered the girlfriend over their child has gotten a relief from a court.
Bruno Fernandes killed his girlfriend and fed her body to dogs
The jail sentence of Brazilian goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes for 2010 murder of a former girlfriend has been reduced by 18 months, according to court documents filed in the state of Minas Gerias.
Xinhua News Agency reported that a panel of judges voted to lessen the prison term from 22 years and three months to 20 years and nine months following an appeal. Report says the decision means Bruno, as he is known in Brazil, will be released in 2031.
The 32-year-old was convicted in 2013 of killing his former partner Eliza Samudio, mutilating her body and feeding it to dogs. He was granted a writ of habeas corpus in February and briefly resumed playing for national Serie B club Boa Esporte before returning to jail in April.
Bruno’s career included spells at Atletico Mineiro, Corinthians and Flamengo. Bruno was captain of the Flamengo team that won the Brazilian league title in 2009, and was touted to move to European football and even contend for a spot in the Brazil national team before investigators linked him to the death of Samudio.
Bruno later admitted after his arrest that he knew about Samudio's death but denied ordering her killing. Although he said he felt guilty for her death and that he benefited from it, he blamed a friend for killing the 25-year-old model.
Investigators said at the time that the player was behind a scheme that lured the model from Rio de Janeiro to a ranch in the neighbouring state of Minas Gerais with the promise that he would recognize the child as his and give her an apartment. There she allegedly was held against her will by Bruno's accomplices, killed, and her remains fed to dogs who roamed the property.
