São José do Belmonte, Brazil – A dramatic scene unfolded in a courtroom in São José do Belmonte, Brazil, when a man took justice into his own hands during a murder trial. The man, identified as Cristiano Alves Terto, 27, interrupted the court proceedings to seek revenge on his father’s killer, Francisco Cleidivaldo Mariano de Moura, 38.
Video footage captured the chaos as Terto opened fire on Moura, shooting him multiple times and physically assaulting him. The judges and jury members scrambled for cover as the violent events unfolded. The incident, which took place on November 29, 2023, was finally made public by the police on April 1, 2024.
Despite the presence of security measures in the courtroom, questions remain about how Terto managed to bring a .38-caliber revolver into the courtroom. Following the attack, Terto chased Moura across the courtroom and continued his assault by striking him in the head. He was then apprehended by the police on suspicion of attempted murder.
Moura, who had been on trial for the murder of Alves, survived the attack but required medical treatment. After being initially treated at a local hospital, he was transferred to a larger medical facility. Fortunately, he has since been released and is in stable condition.
In a shocking turn of events, it was revealed that Moura had previously confessed to the murder of Alves, claiming self-defense. He alleged that Alves had verbally assaulted him, prompting a violent altercation that led to Alves being shot in the abdomen.
Following the incident, Moura fled and evaded capture for over a decade before being apprehended in a city in northern Brazil. Meanwhile, Terto, the assailant, has been detained in prison following the attack. The Pernambuco Court of Justice has not yet scheduled a new trial date for Moura.
The shocking courtroom incident has left both the local community and legal authorities in São José do Belmonte reeling. The violent episode serves as a stark reminder of the complexities and challenges that the justice system faces in delivering justice and maintaining order.