By Patricia Maresch, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Criminal Court Judge Patrícia Acioli (47 years), was murdered early Friday morning in Piratininga, a municipality in Niterói, the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The Judge arrived at her home by car when she was ambushed and killed by men in cars and on motorbikes using Ninja caps who shot her 21 times.
The police suspect the killing was ordered by leading members one of Rio’s militias. Judge Acioli had a reputation of taking a strong stand against militia related crimes and corrupt members of the Military Police in the São Goçalo region of Niterói.
The President of the Court were Judge Acioli worked, told the press that she had received several death threats. According to Acioli’s family the judge was not receiving police protection.
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