Feb 11 β€’ 09:43 UTC πŸ‡§πŸ‡· Brazil G1 (PT)

Woman is convicted of slander after homophobic attack on a couple of women in a restaurant in RS; video shows assaults

A woman was convicted for making homophobic remarks towards two women in a Rio Grande do Sul restaurant, following a video recording of the incident.

In a significant ruling, the Justice of Rio Grande do Sul has convicted Marta de Souza Berg for discriminatory slander based on sexual orientation. The conviction was delivered by the 3rd Criminal Court of Porto Alegre and stems from an incident that took place in May 2025, where Marta was filmed verbally abusing two women in a restaurant located in the Bom Fim neighborhood. The video served as crucial evidence in highlighting the nature of the attack as a deliberate and ongoing violation rather than a spontaneous act.

The court has imposed a sentence of two years of open regime imprisonment, which will be converted to community service and a monetary fine, in addition to ten days of daily fines. Notably, Marta has been granted the opportunity to appeal the decision while remaining free. Her defense team has publicly stated that they are currently evaluating the verdict's legal justifications to determine the viability of an appeal to the Court of Justice of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, which points to a potential continuation of the legal battle regarding this case.

The ruling emphasizes the importance of addressing hate speech and discrimination, reinforcing that such actions are unacceptable in society. The decision highlights the judicial system's stance on homophobia and its implications for public safety and community standards. As legal proceedings continue, there is a broader societal discourse about the need for stronger protections against hate crimes and discrimination based on sexual orientation in Brazil, especially in light of rising incidents of such nature.

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