In São Paulo, a tribunal has ruled that police officers Guilherme Augusto Macedo and Bruno Carvalho do Prado are to stand trial for the murder of medical student Marco Aurélio Cardenas Acosta. The incident occurred in November 2024, in the hotel where Acosta was staying, and he was killed by a close-range gunshot. The exact date for the trial has yet to be determined. This decision represents a significant step in what has been a contentious case involving police accountability in Brazil.

The judge overseeing the case, Luiza Torggler Silva from the 4th Jury Court, announced the ruling on Saturday, highlighting the serious nature of the charges against the officers. They are charged with qualified homicide, which includes aggravating factors such as committing the act for a low motive and using means that impede the victim's defense. The fact that the accused are currently free, albeit relieved from active duty duties, has raised concerns among the victim's family and the public regarding the justice system's handling of police-related killings.

Marco's father, Julio Cesar Acosta Navarro, expressed relief at the decision to bring the officers to trial but criticized the delay in justice, noting that the officers have remained free for over a year since the incident. Acosta Navarro lamented the apparent inaction by authorities, questioning why they have not been removed from the police force entirely. This case has spurred discussions about police violence and accountability in Brazil, particularly within the context of high-profile cases that have highlighted systemic issues in the country’s law enforcement practices.