The driver of a blue Porsche involved in a fatal accident in São Paulo has had his eighth request for release from custody denied by the court this week.
The driver, Fernando Sastre Filho, has been in custody since March 31, 2024, following an accident that resulted in the death of one man and left another injured. His defense team requested the revocation of his preventive detention, suggesting that he could be released with certain precautionary measures; however, the São Paulo court rejected this plea. The court's decision was based on substantial evidence indicating that Sastre Filho was intoxicated at the time he lost control of his luxury sports car and crashed into a Renault Sandero driven by an app driver, Ornaldo da Silva Viana.
The incident also involved Marcus Vinicius Machado Rocha, a medical student and friend of Sastre Filho, who was a passenger in the Porsche. He survived the crash but suffered severe injuries, and the collision was recorded by surveillance cameras, providing crucial evidence for the ongoing legal proceedings. Judge Fernanda Perez Jacomini noted that there are sufficient grounds for maintaining Sastre Filho's detention, emphasizing the severity of the circumstances that led to the accident and the potential risk of recidivism should he be released.
This case highlights ongoing concerns in Brazil regarding road safety, DUI laws, and the judicial handling of cases involving wealthy individuals who may attempt to evade accountability. The repeated denial of freedom requests signals the court's commitment to addressing such serious offenses and ensuring justice for the victims’ families, amidst a societal call for stricter punishments for negligent or reckless driving.
