Paula Caroline Ferreira Rodrigues has been sentenced to 26 years and 8 months in prison for the murder of photographer José Gustavo Bertuol Gargioni, which took place in Canoas, a city in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, Brazil, in 2015. Initially acquitted in 2023, her case was reopened in 2025 after the state prosecutor's office successfully appealed for a retrial. Rodrigues was convicted of triple-qualified homicide due to base motives, the use of cruel means, and methods that hindered the victim's defense.

The case took a dramatic turn when it was revealed that Gargioni was unknowingly dating Rodrigues, who was in a relationship with Juliano Biron, a leader of a criminal group. Evidence presented by the prosecution indicated that Rodrigues lured the photographer into an ambush, where Biron then attacked him and shot him 19 times, leading to his death. This new sentencing reflects the severity of the crime and the complexities involved in this homicide case, which had previously seen different judicial outcomes.

Juliano Biron, the accomplice in this murder, was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison in 2020 and had a noteworthy escape that led to his capture in Bolivia while using an alias. This case highlights the ongoing struggles with crime and justice in Brazil, particularly concerning gang-related violence and the legal system’s ability to handle such serious offenses effectively.