Opposition bloc in the Legislative Assembly of Paraná (Alep) rejects the decision of the Court of Justice of Paraná (TJ-PR) in the case of the murder of Marcelo Arruda.
Opposition criticizes 20-year house arrest sentence imposed on the murderer, calling it an affront to the victim's memory and a trivialization of ideologically motivated hate crimes.
247 - The opposition bloc in the Legislative Assembly of Paraná (Alep) issued a statement repudiating the decision of the State Court of Justice (TJ-PR), which determined that former prison guard Jorge Guaranho, sentenced to 20 years for the political assassination of Marcelo Arruda, treasurer of the PT (Workers' Party), should remain under house arrest. The justification presented, of "humanitarian reasons," was considered by the opposition an affront to the memory of the victim and a trivialization of an ideological hate crime, the gravity of which cannot be ignored.
Marcelo Arruda was brutally murdered in 2022, a victim of an act of political intolerance, while celebrating his birthday, a party themed around the Workers' Party (PT). The assassin used a state-issued weapon to commit the crime, which, according to parliamentarians, further aggravates the violence of the act. The opposition bloc also highlighted that, while Marcelo's family suffers the loss, the perpetrator benefits from a regime that "relativizes barbarity" and disrespects the victim's memory.
"While Marcelo's family suffers, the murderer enjoys a regime that downplays the barbarity. We trust that the TJ-PR (Court of Justice of Paraná) or the Superior Court of Justice (STJ) will review this decision, guaranteeing the full serving of the sentence in a closed regime," the group stated in the text.
According to the statement, in response to the growing political violence, the Legislative Assembly of Paraná unanimously approved Law 21.906/2024, which establishes July 9th as the Day of Struggle against Political Intolerance. Furthermore, the law provides for educational campaigns and partnerships with social movements to combat political violence, as highlighted by Judge Mychelle Pacheco in her ruling. The magistrate emphasized that the enactment of the law was a reaction to the tragedy that occurred, highlighting the urgency of raising public awareness on the subject.
The opposition bloc also defended the consistency between Law 21.906 and judicial decisions, demanding the rigorous application of the law to guarantee the credibility of the penal system and justice for all. "The fight against intolerance requires rigorous application of the law and respect for the jury's decision," the bloc stated, expressing support for Marcelo Arruda's family.
Finally, the group reaffirmed its commitment to the cause and to the technical review of the case by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), trusting that the decision will be reviewed fairly, in order to guarantee exemplary punishment for a crime that exposes the serious consequences of political intolerance.
The statement is signed by state representatives Arilson Chiorato (PT), Ana Júlia Ribeiro (PT), Dr. Antenor (PT), Goura (PDT), Luciana Rafagnin (PT), Professor Lemos (PT), Renato Freitas (PT), and Requião Filho.
