The Salvador Jury Court convicted two men on Tuesday (14th) for the murder of quilombola leader and ialorixá Mãe Bernadete. Arielson da Conceição Santos was sentenced to 29 years and 9 months in prison as the executor of the crime. Marílio dos Santos was sentenced to 40 years, 5 months and 22 days as the mastermind.
Mãe Bernadete was assassinated on August 17, 2023, with 25 gunshots inside her home, in the presence of three grandchildren, in the Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares. The quilombola leader and ialorixá had been enrolled in the Human Rights Defenders Protection Program since 2019 and was known for her work defending quilombola community rights and fighting against drug trafficking in the region.
Arielson da Conceição Santos was sentenced to 29 years and 9 months in prison
Marílio dos Santos was sentenced to 40 years, 5 months and 22 days in prison
Mãe Bernadete was killed with 25 shots on August 17, 2023
The crime occurred at her home in Quilombo Pitanga dos Palmares, in Simões Filho
Both were convicted of aggravated homicide with aggravating circumstances
Amnesty International issued a statement about the convictions
Marílio dos Santos is a fugitive
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (3)
Mãe Bernadete participated in the Human Rights Defenders Protection Program since 2019
Arielson confessed participation in the crime during trial, but said the intention was to intimidate
The case was transferred to Salvador to ensure an impartial trial
Conflicting versions (1)
Year of death of Mãe Bernadete's son
No gaps declared — all sources converge on the material facts.