Assassination of José Kairala
Photograph depicting the moment after the assassination
LocationFederal Senate in Brasília, Federal District
Brazil
Date4 December 1963 (1963-12-04)
TargetSilvestre Péricles (PSD-AL)
Attack type
Assassination, legislative violence
DeathsJosé Kairala (PSD-AC)
AssailantArnon de Melo (PDC-AL)
MotiveFight between senators Arnon de Melo and Silvestre Péricles
VerdictAcquitted for self-defense

The homicide at the Brazilian Federal Senate was a historic event that happened in December 4, 1963 inside the Brazilian Federal Senate, at Brasília. The event is characterized by a murder carried out by senator Arnon de Melo (PDC-AL), who tried to shoot senator Silvestre Péricles (PSD-AL) and ended up hitting and killing the substitute Senator José Kairala (PSD-AC).[1][2][3][4]

Background

External videos
video icon Video containing the audio of the senate session

The confusion began some time before, with discussions between Senators Arnon de Melo and Silvestre Pericles, because both were from families with certain political notoriety in the state of Alagoas, the rise of both families in politics ended up generating a certain conflict.[1]

This ascension affected mainly the Pericles, who had been in regional and federal political positions longer than the Mello's, who would later occupy more relevant positions with the arrival of Fernando Collor de Mello, Arnon's son, to the presidency of Brazil.[5]

Then Pericles had been provoking Arnon, who, to defend himself from a supposed threat, started carrying a gun.[6]

Shooting

Arnon, who had attended few sessions of the Senate, was provoked by Pericles to attend even the federal session on December 4, 1963.[7][2]

After these provocations, Arnon came to the session armed. Knowing the risk he was taking, Pericles also came to the session armed.[1]

After asking for the floor, Arnon made a speech talking about the threats he and his family were facing, and when Pericles started to advance, Arnon shot him. Pericles threw himself on the ground, drawing his gun, but João Agripino prevented him from shooting Arnon.[6]

After the shooting, it was found that a third senator who was trying to break up the fight was hit. That senator was José Kairala, from the state of Acre and from the same party as Pericles.[3]

José Kairala was occupying the section as a substitute due a health problem suffered by the senator. Because it was his last session in the Federal Senate, Kairala had brought his wife and children to attend the session.[2][1] He died at the hospital later that day. Because of the confusion, the session was canceled until further notice by its president, Auro de Moura Andrade.[1][6]

Consequences

Both senators were taken to the police station to give their statements. After the statements, Senator Arnon remained in custody and in possession of his revolver.[8]

After a few hours in jail, Arnon was released with the promise to attend a hearing, where he was released on the grounds of self-defense and the death was treated as an accident.[8][7]

Kairala's widow tried to get Arnon to pay for her son's school expenses, but her request was unsuccessful.[9]

Other cases

On December 26, 1929, when the Federal District was still in Rio de Janeiro, congressman Ildefonso Simões Lopes shot and killed rival Manuel Francisco de Sousa Filho, allegedly to defend his son. He was acquitted.[7]

On June 8, 1967, in the Chamber of Deputies, deputy Nelson Carneiro retaliated against a slap by deputy Estácio Gonçalves Souto Maior after they had argued over the presidency of the Parliamentary Union a few days earlier, by shooting Souto Maior. Both survived and were later acquitted.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Casarin, Rodrigo (2019-12-04). "Há 56 anos, o pai de Fernando Collor matava um senador dentro do Congresso". Aventuras na História (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  2. 1 2 3 Estado', 'Agência. "De porrada a assassinato: relembre tumultos históricos dentro do Senado". Acervo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  3. 1 2 "Faroeste Senado: o dia que o pai de Collor matou um parlamentar". Brasil de Fato (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  4. ↑ "Pronunciamento de Arnon de Mello em 04/12/1963 - Pronunciamentos - Senado Federal". www25.senado.leg.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  5. ↑ "Há 55 anos, pai de Fernando Collor matou um senador dentro do Congresso". br.noticias.yahoo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  6. 1 2 3 Ápyus, Marlos (2018-12-12). "O dia em que o Senado brasileiro testemunhou um assassinato". A Agência (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Arnon de Melo: Pai do ex-presidente Fernando Collor matou colega com tiro no Senado". Blog do Acervo - O Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  8. 1 2 Romano, Rogério Tadeu. "UM ASSASSINATO NO SENADO - Jus.com.br | Jus Navigandi". jus.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2021-10-09.
  9. ↑ "Assassinato no Senado: 5 fatos sobre a desgraça de senador Arnon de Mello" (in Brazilian Portuguese). 2020-09-01. Retrieved 2021-11-23.
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