Jeff Machado and Jeander Vinícius Reproduction The trial of one of those accused of involvement in the murder of actor Jeff Machado, found dead in May 2023, begins this Wednesday (8) in Rio de Janeiro. Jeander Vinícius da Silva Braga is responsible for qualified homicide, concealment of a corpse and animal abuse — Setter dogs that belonged to the actor were abandoned after his death. The process was dismembered, and the trial of the other defendant, Bruno de Souza Rodrigues, who is responsible for 8 crimes, will take place on December 10, 2026. For the police, the motivation for the murder was the actor having charged Bruno with a false promise of a place in a soap opera. Investigators believe that Jeff paid R$18,000 to the criminals. Jeander claims that he only participated in hiding the corpse (read more about his version later in the report). The victim's mother traveled to Rio to watch the trial in person. ?g1 Rio is on GloboPop, Globo's new vertical short video app, available for free on your cell phone. In the app, you can follow the g1 Rio stage so you don't miss any details. Download GloboPop. Court decides that defendants in Jeff Machado's death go to jury Jeff Machado disappeared at the end of January 2023. His body was found buried 2 meters deep, inside a chest covered by concrete in a house in Campo Grande, in the West Zone. For the police, the motivation for the crime was that the actor had charged Bruno with a false promise of a place in a soap opera. Investigators believe that Jeff paid R$18,000 to the criminals. Actor Jefferson Machado Costa was 44 years old when he was killed. He was born in the city of Araranguá, in Santa Catarina. 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. Investigators stated that Jeff Machado's dream of launching his artistic career was used by Bruno and Jeander to commit the crime. With no relatives in Rio de Janeiro and living in a remote place, Jeff was considered a “perfect victim”, according to the police. According to Jeander, producer Bruno drugged Jeff at the actor's home, strangled him and killed the victim. The two placed the body in the actor's trunk and left for the shack in the West Zone of Rio to hide the body. Investigators say Bruno pretended to be the victim to rent the house used to hide the body. On January 27, Jeff's family reported him missing. However, the actor's body was only found on May 22, buried in the trunk. Jeff Machado's body was found inside the actor's own trunk. Reproduction What Jeander says In the process, Jeander denies the murder charges and says that he only participated in hiding the body of actor Jeff Machado. "Jeander confessed to the crime of hiding a corpse, but reaffirms that he had no role in the murder of Jeff Machado. And it will be proven to the jury that he is innocent", said lawyer Fábio Manoel. Lawyer Jairo Magalhães, who represents the prosecution, denied the defense's arguments and stated that Jeander participated in planning the crimes and was present when the victim died. "A wall was built so that nothing inside could be seen; he dug the grave previously. Jeander was present at the act of the brutal death, inside the room, actively participating in the resulting death", explained the lawyer. “Then, they went together to hide the body and also participated in the mistreatment that resulted in the death of two animals”, he pointed out. “May the answer come as an initial act of justice, for family, friends and the whole of society, through the verdict of the 7 jurors”, said the lawyer.