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On Wednesday (20/07), prison police officer Jorge Guaranho, who shot and killed PT member Marcelo Arruda at his birthday party, was charged with double-qualified murder for futile reason and common danger by the Paraná Public Ministry (MP-PR). The agency understood that the accused acted for a futile reason arising from “antagonistic party-political preferences” and that Guaranho put more people’s lives at risk by firing the shots inside the party’s hall.
Divergence
On Friday (15/07), the Paraná Civil Police had released the conclusions of the investigation. According to the document, there was no political motivation in the murder of the PT member in Foz do Iguaçu. Police Chief Camila Cecconello stated that Guaranho shot Marcelo because he felt offended, as the PT member threw a handful of dirt and stone at his car, after a political provocation. In the inquiry, Ceconello considered that the first discussion between Arruda and Guaranho was motivated by political issues. However, when Guaranho returned to the party, after leaving his wife and son at home, the policeman would have reacted to a feeling of humiliation. For the Public Ministry, the approximately ten minutes that separate the two moments are a continuous line and had the same political motivation.
The Case
On Saturday (09/07), Marcelo de Arruda, a City Guard and Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) member, was shot dead by Jorge Guaranho, a policeman from the federal prison system and supporter of President Jair Bolsonaro. Arruda was at a local club celebrating his birthday party in which the theme was former president Lula and PT. When the event was ending, Guaranho appeared in front of the party’s hall, and according to police reports, drove past shouting phrases in support of Bolsonaro, he called Lula a thief, and cursed. After a quick argument with the city guard and his friends, he left but told that would return. Then, according to witnesses, Arruda went to his car and took a gun to defend himself. Later, the policeman returned, invaded the party, and shot Arruda, who, despite being wounded, also hit Guaranho. The police officer survived and was later arrested.
The Aftermath
Due to the circumstances in which the murder occurred, even before the Public Ministry released its understanding about the case, it was interpreted by many as an act of political violence. According to the statements of several political leaders, the homicide spread fears and alerts of probable increase in tensions and more acts of political violence across the country as an extremely polarized election approaches.
The opposition accused President Jair Bolsonaro of stimulating such violent actions. Seven parties (Rede, PC do B, PSB, PV, PSOL and Solidariedade) filed a lawsuit at the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) against the President for inciting violence and utter hate speech. To the TSE, the parties argued that the President’s speeches are configured in psychological stimuli that build in the imagination of their supporters and followers the dehumanization of the opponent.
The defense of Jair Bolsonaro asked on Wednesday (20/07) that the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) reject the lawsuit. According to the lawyers, Bolsonaro’s speeches mentioned by the parties have no electoral link and, therefore, are outside the scope of the TSE. Moreover, Bolsonaro’s defense also said that it is “irresponsible” to attribute to the President, because of his speeches, acts of violence such as the death of Marcelo Arruda.
