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Jury trial of three military police officers accused in Gritzbach's death annulled after defense abandons courtroom

3 sources · 23 Jun 2026 · Share coverage ·

verbatim from the press

The jury trial judging three military police officers accused of involvement in the death of businessman Vinícius Gritzbach was annulled on Monday (22) after the defense abandoned the courtroom following a disagreement with the prosecutor, causing the dissolution of the jury council. The annulment forces a new trial, with no date yet set, and requires the repetition of seven prosecution witness testimonies that had already been heard.

Press quotes (2)
JC

"O júri responsável pelo julgamento de três policiais militares acusados de participação na morte do empresário Vinícius Gritzbach foi anulado nesta segunda-feira (22). A defesa dos réus abandonou o plenário após desentendimento com o promotor, e, com isso, houve a dissolução do conselho de sentença."

Hoje em Dia

"Na tarde de hoje, foram ouvidas sete testemunhas da acusação, mas com o aceite do pedido de invalidação feito pela defesa, esses depoimentos terão de ser refeitos."

Being tried are Lieutenant Fernando Genauro da Silva, Corporal Denis Antônio Martins, and Private Ruan Silva Rodrigues, all in custody. Besides the accusation of involvement in Gritzbach's execution, the three face charges for the death of rideshare driver Celso Novais — who was passing by at the time of the shooting — and for injuries to two other people hit by fragments.

Press quotes (2)
JC

"Serão julgados o tenente Fernando Genauro da Silva, o cabo Denis Antônio Martins e o soldado Ruan Silva Rodrigues, que estão presos."

Veja

"Além do envolvimento na execução de Gritzbach, eles são acusados pela morte do motorista de aplicativo Celso Novais, que passava pelo local no momento dos tiros, e pelo ferimento de duas pessoas, atingidas por estilhaços dos disparos."

Gritzbach was assassinated on November 8, 2024, at Terminal 2 of Guarulhos International Airport. The businessman was a defendant for homicide and accused of involvement in money laundering schemes for the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). Before being killed, he had signed a plea agreement with the Public Prosecutor's Office, providing names of people linked to the PCC and accusing police officers of corruption.

Press quotes (2)
Hoje em Dia

"A execução do empresário ocorreu em 8 de novembro de 2024 no Terminal 2 do Aeroporto Internacional de Guarulhos."

JC

"Gritzbach era réu por homicídio e acusado de envolvimento em esquemas de lavagem de dinheiro para a organização criminosa Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC). Antes de ser assassinado, em 2024, ele havia assinado uma delação premiada com o Ministério Público, entregando nomes de pessoas ligadas ao PCC e também acusando policiais de corrupção."

The initial plan was for five days of trial, with 21 witnesses — nine for the prosecution and 12 for the defense. With the annulment, the schedule will have to be redone from the beginning.

Press quotes (1)
Hoje em Dia

"A previsão inicial era de cinco dias de julgamento, com 21 testemunhas ouvidas, das quais nove de acusação."

1. What we know (4)

The jury was annulled on June 22, 2026, after the defense abandoned the courtroom due to a disagreement with the prosecutor, causing dissolution of the jury council

3 sources JC Hoje em Dia Veja

The three defendants — Lieutenant Fernando Genauro da Silva, Corporal Denis Antônio Martins, and Private Ruan Silva Rodrigues — are in custody and accused of Gritzbach's execution, the death of driver Celso Novais, and injuries to two people

3 sources JC Hoje em Dia Veja

Gritzbach was assassinated on November 8, 2024, at Terminal 2 of Guarulhos International Airport

3 sources JC Hoje em Dia Veja

Gritzbach was a defendant for homicide, accused of money laundering for PCC, and had signed a plea agreement with prosecutors providing names linked to PCC and accusing police of corruption

3 sources JC Hoje em Dia Veja
2. Where coverage thins out (2)

Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.

Covered by only some sources (2)

Seven prosecution witnesses were heard before the annulment and their testimonies will have to be repeated

Reported by: JC Hoje em Dia
Did not cover: Veja

The initial plan was five days of trial with 21 witnesses, nine for the prosecution

Reported by: JC Hoje em Dia
Did not cover: Veja
3. What we don't know yet (5)
  • What was the specific reason for the disagreement between defense and prosecutor that led to the annulment?

    Why it's still unknown: Press outlets report only that there was a 'disagreement,' without detailing the nature of the divergence or which specific statement provoked the defense's abandonment of the courtroom.

    Did not cover: JC Hoje em Dia Veja
  • What was the jury's status before annulment — had voting begun or was it still in the evidentiary phase?

    Why it's still unknown: Sources report that seven prosecution witnesses were heard before the annulment, but do not inform whether the jury council had begun deliberation or if the annulment occurred during the evidentiary phase.

    Did not cover: JC Hoje em Dia Veja
  • What is the case number and who is the presiding judge?

    Why it's still unknown: Attempt to obtain formal case information from the TJSP portal was unsuccessful — the e-SAJ system interface requires specific selector navigation not yet implemented in this version of the research tool.

    Did not cover: JC Hoje em Dia Veja
  • Who are the defense attorneys for the three defendants?

    Why it's still unknown: None of the consulted outlets identify by name the defenders who abandoned the courtroom.

    Did not cover: JC Hoje em Dia Veja
  • What is the legal basis for the annulment — does defense abandonment constitute absolute or relative nullity?

    Why it's still unknown: Outlets do not report which criminal procedure provision supports the annulment decision nor whether there was a statement from the Public Prosecutor's Office regarding the invalidation request.

    Did not cover: JC Hoje em Dia Veja

All sources

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