✓ verbatim from the press
Businessman Thiago Brennand, convicted to more than 30 years in prison for rape, assault, and violence against women, will marry lawyer Karina Kufa on July 2, 2026. Kufa has been part of his defense team for four months. Imprisoned since April 2023 at the Álvaro de Carvalho II Penitentiary in Potim, São Paulo state, Brennand will participate in the civil ceremony by proxy. According to Karina, in an interview with Mônica Bergamo's column in Folha de S.Paulo, she is "fully convinced" of Brennand's innocence and believes in his acquittal. "It was a passion through words. I fell in love with his intellect," she stated. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"Condenado a mais de 30 anos de prisão por crimes que incluem estupros, agressões e violência contra a mulher, o empresário Thiago Brennand vai se casar com a advogada Karina Kufa, que integra sua equipe de defesa"
"Brennand está preso desde 2023"
"Foi uma paixão pelas palavras. Me apaixonei pelo intelecto dele"
Brennand's convictions include three main sentences: in September 2024, the São Paulo Court of Justice sentenced him to 10 years and 6 months in closed regime for rape with physical violence and serious threat; in January 2024, he received an 8-year sentence in another rape case; and in November 2023, he was sentenced to 1 year and 8 months for assaulting model Alliny Helena Gomes at a gym in São Paulo. In March 2026, the Superior Court of Justice restored the original sentence of 10 years and 6 months after the São Paulo Court of Justice had reduced the sentence by two years in 2025. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Em setembro de 2024, o Tribunal de Justiça de São Paulo condenou o empresário a 10 anos e 6 meses de prisão, em regime inicial fechado, por estupro com violência física e grave ameaça. Ele havia sido condenado, em novembro de 2023, a 1 ano e 8 meses por agressão à modelo Alliny Helena Gomes em uma academia na cidade de São Paulo. O empresário também recebeu uma condenação a 8 anos de prisão em janeiro de 2024, em outro processo de estupro."
"Em 2024, foi condenado a 10 anos e 6 meses de prisão por estuprar uma atriz norte-americana. Em 2025, a defesa recorreu da sentença e o Tribunal de Justiça de São Paulo (TJSP), que reduziu a pena em dois anos, decisão essa que gerou repercrussão e críticas. Dessa vez, o ministro do STJ Antonio Saldanha Palheiro decidiu restabelecer a condenação original, após analisar o recurso do MPSP."
According to the São Paulo Court of Justice, as of September 2025 there were no more rape or violence cases against Brennand in progress. The ninth case tried on that date was "the last one pending according to TJSP." In total, Brennand was convicted in six cases and reached out-of-court settlements in two others, all involving assault, violence against women, and rape. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"O processo, que era o nono pelo qual ele respondeu, era também o último em aberto segundo o Tribunal de Justiça de São Paulo (TJSP). [...] Ele foi condenado em cinco processos e chegou a acordos extrajudiciais em outros dois, em todos respondendo por crimes que variam entre agressões, violência contra a mulher e estupros."
Karina Kufa, 46, is divorced and has two children. The lawyer gained national prominence by defending former president Jair Bolsonaro and former federal deputy Eduardo Bolsonaro, and still works on old cases involving both. According to the lawyer, she and Brennand have never had physical contact and their weekly meetings take place in the prison visiting room, separated by glass. "You know when someone is your mirror? It was an act of God, a meeting of souls and intellect," she told Folha. She said she intends to have only a civil wedding at this time and hopes Brennand will leave prison soon so they can also have a religious wedding. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Karina Kufa é advogada especializada em direito eleitoral e ganhou projeção nacional após defender o ex-presidente Jair Bolsonaro (PL) e o ex-deputado federal Eduardo Bolsonaro (PL)."
"Sabe quando a pessoa é o seu espelho? Foi um acontecimento de Deus, um encontro de almas e de intelecto. Com ele, consigo conversar de igual para igual"
Thiago Brennand has been imprisoned since April 2023 at the Álvaro de Carvalho II Penitentiary in Potim, São Paulo state, serving a sentence for multiple convictions totaling more than 30 years.
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (3)
Conflicting versions (1)
Total number of Thiago Brennand's convictions
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What is the legal basis that allows a civil marriage by proxy for a detainee in closed regime?
Why it's still unknown: No outlet detailed the specific legal procedures that authorize the ceremony by proxy in this context.
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Are there any regulations from the National Council of Justice or the Brazilian Bar Association regarding relationships between lawyers and clients in prison?
Why it's still unknown: The outlets did not address possible ethical rules applicable to the situation.
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When did Karina Kufa formally stop acting as Brennand's defense lawyer, if she did at all?
Why it's still unknown: Reports state she 'is part of his defense team' in the present tense, but do not specify whether the marriage implies formal withdrawal from the case or if she continues to work professionally on it.
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What is the current procedural status of each of Brennand's convictions — are there pending appeals, expected progression of regime deadlines?
Why it's still unknown: The outlets report the sentences but do not detail the current state of the processes or criminal execution prospects.