Man sentenced to 21 years for killing neighbour with meat cleaver in Rio Claro (SP)
Hunberto Agustinho da Silva was sentenced to 21 years and 8 months in prison for killing Marcio Jose Boer with blows from a meat cutting board and setting the victim's body on fire.
Sentence of over 21 years for qualified homicide in Rio Claro
Hunberto Agustinho da Silva was sentenced to 21 years and 8 months in prison, in a closed regime initially, for the murder of Marcio Jose Boer, 46 years old, with blows from a meat cutting board. According to the sentence handed down on Tuesday (22) by the Rio Claro Jury Court (SP), the defendant may not appeal while at liberty. The case was widely reported by g1.globo.com.
The crime occurred on the afternoon of 8 May 2025, in a residence located on Rua 12, in the Santa Cruz neighbourhood. Hunberto was arrested at the scene by the Municipal Civil Guard (GCM).
Aggravating factors recognised: base motive, cruel means and procedural fraud
The Public Prosecutor's Office of the State of São Paulo (MP-SP) highlighted that the sentence recognised the commission of procedural fraud, in addition to the aggravating factors of base motive, cruel means and use of a method that prevented the victim from defending himself. Justice promoter Maria Claudia Cruz de Oliveira described the conduct as revealing "absolute disregard for human life".
According to the charges, the crime occurred inside the residence where the two lived and regularly consumed drugs. Following a discussion, Hunberto demanded that Marcio leave the property and threatened him with death. When he refused, Hunberto seized a wooden board used for cutting food and struck multiple blows to the victim's head, neck, chest and limbs.
Even after Marcio was seriously wounded and incapacitated, the defendant set fire to part of his body, causing burns whilst the victim still showed signs of life, according to the MP-SP.
Post-mortem report indicates multiple fractures and mechanical asphyxia
The post-mortem report indicated multiple rib fractures, lung perforation and neck injuries that caused mechanical asphyxia. Defensive injuries were also identified on the victim's arms and hands, suggesting an attempt to resist the assault.
The prosecution stated that Hunberto attempted to alter the crime scene: he dragged the body to another room, washed the location and removed blood traces. The trial was conducted by justice promoter Cássio Sartori.
GCM finds defendant cleaning the kitchen at time of arrest
According to the Occurrence Report, the GCM was called and found the victim dead, with various injuries throughout the body apparently caused by a blunt instrument and burn marks. The Mobile Emergency Care Service (Samu) confirmed death. The officers found Hunberto washing the kitchen and cleaning doors and the yard, which bore bloodstains.
According to the guards, Hunberto initially reported that he had lived with the victim for about a month in the house and that both regularly consumed drugs. He said he did not know the reason for Marcio's death and claimed that he himself had asked a neighbour to call for help.
After the Samu emergency responders left, Hunberto changed his story and told the GCMs what had actually happened. According to him, Marcio had consumed drugs — possibly cocaine or crack — and became very agitated. In the midst of the discussion, he asked Marcio to leave the house, under threat of death.
As the victim did not comply with his request, Hunberto stated that he had taken the wooden board from the kitchen and struck blows to the head and body with the intention to kill. Marcio became unsteady, entered an external bathroom and fell in the kitchen, already dead.
Hunberto also said he had dragged the body to a bed before Samu's arrival and begun cleaning the bloodstains, without managing to complete the task. The board used in the crime was found on the kitchen sink, with visible bloodstains.
Victim had received the house as an inheritance
The civil guards preserved the location for examination by the Scientific Police. Marcio's sister attended the scene and informed them that he had received the property as an inheritance. She said her brother was a drug user and that she was unaware that other people lived in the house, as she had not visited him for about four months. She did not know Hunberto.
Arrested at the scene, the attacker was taken to the Emergency Care Unit (UPA) in the Estádio neighbourhood and subsequently taken to the Police Station. Hunberto did not answer questions, stated he would only speak in court and would not sign any documents. He was placed in the prison sector of the Rio Claro Police Precinct. Marcio's body was taken to the local Legal Medical Institute (IML).
Hunberto's defence team was not located by g1.globo.com by the time this report was finalised.
Source: Google News BR — São Paulo