The Ministry of Public of Minas Gerais has appealed a court decision that acquitted a man accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old girl, following his previous conviction to over nine years in prison.
The Ministry of Public of Minas Gerais (MPMG) has officially appealed against a judicial decision that acquitted a 35-year-old man accused of sexual assault against a vulnerable individual, specifically a 12-year-old girl. The incident in question took place in Indianópolis, located in Minas Gerais. According to reports, the accused had initially been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison; however, the 9th Chamber of the Court of Justice of Minas Gerais overturned this sentence, leading to the defendant's acquittal.
The ruling came with considerable controversy, as the presiding judge, Magid Nauef Láuar, stated that the relationship between the victim and the accused was akin to a marriage, which he argued was known to the victim’s family. Two out of the three judges on the panel sided with this opinion, while the third judge, Kárin Emmerich, dissented, illustrating the division within the court regarding the interpretation of the relationship's nature. This case has sparked discussions about legal definitions of consent and the implications of familial knowledge in such circumstances.
The MPMG's decision to appeal this case indicates a significant push against the recent ruling and highlights ongoing concerns regarding the protection of minors in sexual abuse cases. The outcome of this appeal could set important legal precedents regarding how similar cases are handled in the future, especially in terms of definitions of vulnerability and consent when it comes to minors in Brazil.
