São Paulo Jury Acquits Officer in Killing of Jiu-Jitsu Champion Leandro Lo

Overview

• Henrique Velozo was released from the Romão Gomes military prison early Saturday after a court issued his release order.
• The three-day trial in the Barra Funda forum heard nine witnesses before at least four of seven jurors accepted the self-defense claim, and Judge Fernanda Jacomini issued the verdict.
• Leandro Lo, 33, was shot in the head on August 7, 2022, during a confrontation at São Paulo’s Esporte Clube Sírio and died at a hospital.
• Prosecutor João Carlos Calsavara called the proceeding “complicated, with nullities” and signaled a move to overturn the decision, while Lo’s mother said the family will appeal.
• Separate from the criminal case, a court ruling in October reinstated Velozo to the Military Police, restoring monthly pay reported at more than R$14,000.