Accused of the death of actor Jeff Machado is sentenced to more than 22 years in prison in Rio

The trial took place at the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro and included the testimony of 12 witnesses, in addition to the interrogation of the defendant himself. In the sentence, the jurors recognized the qualifications of futile motive, asphyxiation and the victim's inability to defend himself.

In a note to UOL, lawyer Fábio Manoel stated that he "respects the jurors' decision, but understands that it was unfair." According to him, the evidence presented during the jury "was not sufficient to prove Jeander's participation in the crime of homicide."

Also following the entire session was Maria das Dores, mother of Jeff Machado, who traveled from Santa Catarina to Rio de Janeiro to attend the trial. Emotional after the conviction, she stated that the decision represents the outcome she had been waiting for since her son's disappearance. In addition to accompanying the jury, she also gave testimony.

During the investigation, Jeander presented different versions about his participation in the case. In a statement to the Civil Police, he confessed to being involved in the crime, but attributed the murder to Bruno de Souza Rodrigues, who was considered primarily responsible for Jeff's death.

According to this version, Bruno would have drugged the actor before strangling him with a telephone cord. During the trial, Jeander denied having participated in the murder and stated that he was hired only to dig the hole where the body would later be hidden. He also said that he was taking a shower at the time of death and that he was coerced into helping to hide the body.

Jeff Machado disappeared on January 27, 2023 and his body was only found in May of that year, buried inside a concreted wooden chest about two meters deep, in a plot of land in the Campo Grande neighborhood, in the west zone of Rio de Janeiro.

Identification was made using fingerprints. The body was in the fetal position, with its hands tied and a steel wire around its neck, evidence that reinforced the hypothesis of strangulation. The trunk used to hide the corpse belonged to the actor himself and had been removed from his residence.

The case against Bruno de Souza Rodrigues is being processed separately. Also imprisoned since 2023, he is responsible not only for qualified homicide and concealment of a corpse, but also for embezzlement, attempted embezzlement, theft, hacking of a computer device and false identity. His trial is scheduled for December 10th.

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