"Lawyers representing former President Jair Bolsonaro have told a panel of five justices on Brazil's Supreme Court that their client was denied a fair hearing on charges he plotted a coup d'etat. A verdict in the case is expected within days. But on Wednesday, Bolsonaro's defence team argued that anything other than an acquittal would be a miscarriage of justice."
"We did not have access to the evidence, and much less had enough time to go through it, lawyer Celso Vilardi told the Supreme Court. Nevertheless, Vilardi told the court there was not a single shred of evidence linking Bolsonaro to the alleged plot to overturn Brazil's 2022 election. That election saw Bolsonaro, the incumbent, narrowly defeated in a run-off against Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the current president."
"Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting that Bolsonaro and his supporters planned to declare a state of siege that would prompt military action and a new election. One aide allegedly proposed poisoning Lula, his left-wing rival. Bolsonaro has denied any wrongdoing, instead framing the trial as a political hit job. He faces five charges, including attempting a coup, seeking to end the democratic rule of law and participating in a armed criminal organisation."
Defence lawyers for former President Jair Bolsonaro made final arguments, asserting he was denied a fair hearing on charges of plotting a coup. The defence argued that only an acquittal would avoid a miscarriage of justice and claimed the trial was rushed for political reasons. Lawyer Celso Vilardi said the defence lacked access to evidence and found no shred linking Bolsonaro to plans to overturn the 2022 election, which he narrowly lost to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Prosecutors alleged plans to declare a state of siege, prompt military action and hold a new election, and presented other allegations linked to the January 8, 2023 riots. Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing and faces five charges, including attempting a coup and participating in an armed criminal organisation.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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