Serial killer now says he was coerced into confessing.
Security guard Tiago Henrique Gomes da Rocha testified in court and denied being responsible for all 39 murders attributed to him in Goiânia over the past two years; he also said he confessed to several homicides under duress from "men from the police station"; three witnesses were heard yesterday by Judge Jesseir Coelho de Alcântara, of the 1st Criminal Court of Goiânia; Marinalva Andrade said she witnessed the death of Adailton dos Santos Farias and recognized the security guard through television images and his voice: "I would never forget his voice."
TJ-GO - Breaking a routine of silence in the hearings of the trials investigating the homicides of which he is a suspect, security guard Tiago Henrique Gomes da Rocha (pictured) spoke in court. Before Judge Jesseir Coelho de Alcântara, of the 1st Criminal Court of Goiânia, he denied murdering Adailton dos Santos Farias. In testimony marked by contradictions and short answers, he said he did not remember the crime and that he was not responsible for 39 murders that occurred in Goiânia in the last two years, as reported by the press. The testimonies were attended by prosecutor Cyro Terra Peres and lawyer Brunna Moreno de Miranda Bernardes.
Tiago Henrique also said that he confessed to several homicides under duress. When questioned about who had coerced him, he stated that it was men from the police station. Judge Jesseir Coelho de Alcântara asked if he knew that the investigation into Adailton's death had been led by a woman; he simply said that he did not remember.
The security guard confirmed that all the crimes were committed under the influence of voices whose origin he didn't know. He stated that he didn't remember all the details of the crimes he committed, only that he left home on his motorcycle, driven by feelings of rage, and that he had flashes of memory of the murders. "I only remember the sound of a gunshot," he stated.
Judge Jesseir Coelho de Alcântara (in the center of the photo) asked Tiago Henrique if he had any feelings about the crimes he was accused of. The security guard replied that he was remorseful, but that these feelings only arose now, after the facts came to light and he ended up being arrested and taken to the Custody Unit of the Aparecida de Goiânia Prison Complex.
Three witnesses were heard yesterday before security guard Tiago Henrique was taken to the courtroom. Marinalva Miranda Andrade stated that she witnessed the death of Adailton dos Santos Farias. According to her, Tiago Henrique arrived on a motorcycle and, armed with a revolver, ordered the victim to lie on the ground before shooting him. He then got back on the motorcycle and fled.
Marinalva Andrade said she recognized the security guard from television images and by his voice. "I would never forget his voice," she stated. Charles Alves Miranda and Vanderley Miranda de Andrade, friends of the victim, also testified. The witness Maria Josimara Nascimento Cruz, also called by the prosecution and the defense, did not appear and was excused by both.