Brazil's Ex-colonel Sentenced to 632 Years on Massacre ChargesBrazil's Sao Paulo justice Saturday sentenced former colonel Ubiratan Guimaraes to 632 years in prison for killing 102 inmates rioting in the Carandiru prison on October 1992.Judge Maria Cristina Cotrofe announced the decision after an 11- day trial on the massacre of 111 rioting jail inmates, accusing Guimaraes of incorrectly leading the occupation of the prison in violation of the military police plan. The former colonel decided to send in a commando, which should only be used in case of total lack of control under the military police plan, and the arms used by the military police like machine guns were not suitable in this case, according to the ruling. Although Guimaraes was issued a sentence of six years for each of the inmates massacred, and 20 more years for five homicide attempts, he will only serve 30 years, for the Brazilian legal system prohibits longer terms of imprisonment. The defense counsel, Vicente Cascione, announced that the sentence will be appealed because he considers the arguments and decisions were confusing. |
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