A Brazilian judge has dismissed a request from the defense that could have delayed the trial of Leo Luiz Ribeiro, the driver accused of fatally hitting Luís Ferreira, a 72-year-old protester of the Landless Workers' Movement (MST), in Valinhos, São Paulo, in July 2019. The ruling was delivered on Thursday, after the judge labeled the defense's tactics as illegal, noting that the first attempt to conduct the trial faced disruptions when the defense team walked out in protest over an earlier denial of a postponement. This previous incident was cited as a reason for the delays in proceeding with the trial.

According to Judge Geraldo Fernandes Ribeiro do Vale, the actions of Ribeiro's defense during the previous trial session constituted a breach of legal protocol, which contributed to the postponement of the case. Originally, the trial had commenced in November of the previous year but was halted due to the defense's protest against prior rulings. The case now hangs in a balance as Ribeiro, who was 60 years old at the time of the incident, continues to face charges while out on bail after serving time in custody.

The incident has underscored tensions surrounding protests led by the MST, an organization advocating for land reform in Brazil. The death of Ferreira during a demonstration has amplified concerns about the treatment of protesters and the legal proceedings involving alleged violence against them. As the trial proceeds, it will attract significant attention regarding issues of social justice and the rights of activists in Brazil, especially amid the far-reaching implications of land ownership disputes in the country’s socio-political landscape.