Brazil's Supreme Court starts deliberations in Bolsonaro trial

"Speaking in court on Tuesday, he said the crimes in question had already been recognised by the high court in prior rulings, so the subject now under discussion is identifying those responsible. There is no doubt there was an attempt to abolish the democratic rule of law, that there was an attempted coup, and that there was a criminal organisation that caused damage to public property, Moraes said."

"Brazil's Supreme Court has started deliberations on a verdict in the coup-plot trial of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. The court's five justices began voting Tuesday and have until the end of the week to reach a judgement on Bolsonaro, who faces charges of plotting a coup to remain in power after he lost the 2022 election to leftist candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has denied all charges."

"Bolsanaro stands accused of taking part in an armed criminal organisation; attempting to violently abolish democracy; organising a coup d'etat; damaging government property; and damaging protected cultural assets. If found guilty, he could receive 43 years in prison. In their formal arguments last month, lawyers for the former president said he is innocent on all five counts. The trial is the first of a Brazilian former head of state on coup charges."

Brazil's Supreme Court began voting this week on a verdict in the coup-plot trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro. A five-justice panel has until the end of the week to reach a judgement on charges that Bolsonaro plotted a coup after losing the 2022 election to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro denies all charges. He faces accusations including organising a coup, participating in an armed criminal organisation, and damaging government property, with a potential sentence up to 43 years. Justice Alexandre de Moraes cited evidence of an attempted coup and alleged assassination plans. The trial is the first of a former Brazilian head of state on coup charges and is widely seen as a test of democracy.

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