Justice Convicts 3 for Raping American Tourist in Rio

08/16/2013 - 09h03

The three men accused of raping an American tourist, inside of a transit van were sentenced to 49 years and 3 months and 21 years and 7 months by Rio Court on Wednesday.

The crime happened in March. The young woman and her boyfriend, a Frenchman, both visiting Rio on vacation, took a van in Copacabana when going to Lapa. On the way, one of the accused men announced the robbery.

The passengers handed their belongings and then forced to get off the van. Only the couple remained. Over six hours, the two were victims of violence. He was beaten and she was raped.

In his ruling, Judge Guilherme Schilling Pollo Duarte condemned Jonathan Froudakis de Souza and Walace Aparecido Souza Silva to 49 years, 3 months and 11 days each, each for the crimes of robbery, rape and extortion. Carlos Armando Costa dos Santos was sentenced to 21 years and 7 months in prison for rape and extortion.

According to the judge, the action of the defendants can be divided "into three distinct episodes." The first, when they robbed passengers, the second when they raped the tourist and the third when, after the sexual assault, they forced the victim and her boyfriend to give the card password to make withdrawals.

According to a witness quoted in the decision, the accused also tried to convince a teenager to rape the victim.

Those convicted can make an appeal. Folha could not reach their lawyers.

Translated by SIMONE PALMA

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