Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), rejected Monique Medeiros’ defense appeals and maintained the immediate arrest order against the mother of the boy Henry Borel. She is accused of her son’s death in March 2021.
In the motions presented by Monique’s lawyers, the defense pointed out supposed contradictions and omissions, and argued that the First Degree Court would have jurisdiction to evaluate appeals against preventive detention.
Minister Gilmar Mendes’ decision analyzed the order that reestablished the preventive detention of Monique Medeiros, signed by the minister last Friday (17). Monique’s arrest had been revoked by the Court of the 2nd Criminal Court of Rio de Janeiro on March 23, 2026, on the grounds of an unjustified excess of time for the trial.
The popular jury that would judge Monique and the other defendant in the action, former councilor Dr. Jairinho, was postponed after his defense left the plenary. The action was classified by the STF minister as a defense maneuver.
In the new decision, the dean of the Supreme Court states that the fact that Monique is arrested does not imply the right to full defense. “Just as it was possible to exercise your right to meet with your possible defense in order to prepare for the postponed session, you will be able to renew the act, even when deprived of liberty,” he stated.
The minister also gave the State Secretariat of Criminal Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro a 24-hour deadline to inform the place where Henry Borel’s mother should remain detained until the date of the next jury, scheduled for the end of May.
To CNN Brasil, Monique’s defense informed that it filed new embargoes on Saturday (18) and is awaiting a decision from Minister Gilmar Mendes.
Understand Henry Borel case
The case of the boy Henry Borel, who died on March 8, 2021, generated great national repercussion due to the circumstances surrounding the child’s death. Monique Medeiros and former councilor Dr. Jairinho, the boy’s mother and stepfather, both defendants in the case, will undergo trial by a popular jury at the Court of Justice of the State of Rio de Janeiro, next Monday (23).
A CNN Brazil separated the main details of the investigations and shows you what is known to date about the clues in the case. Understand below:
Going to the hospital
The story of Henry Borel’s death, 5 years ago, began in the apartment where Monique Medeiros and Jairo Souza Santos Júnior lived. According to investigations, the couple took the unconscious child to the hospital, where doctors found that the boy arrived dead at the unit.
When questioned, Monique and Jairinho told the case investigators that Henry had suffered a domestic accident, falling from the bed where he was sleeping. However, the expert ruled out the possibility of an accidental fall due to the severity of the child’s injuries.
IML report
After death was confirmed, multiple injuries were identified on Henry’s body. As part of the investigation, the autopsy report from the IML (Legal Medical Institute) revealed that the boy suffered 23 injuries.
The cause of death was found to be internal bleeding and liver laceration (rupture of the liver) due to blunt force, in addition to injuries to the head, nose, kidneys, lungs and bruises on the abdomen and wrist.
Israeli technology
As a way of advancing the investigations, cell phones and computers were seized. Based on the actions, Israeli technology was used on the devices to recover deleted messages on Monique’s cell phone.
Through the records, the police learned that Henry’s mother had already been alerted by a nanny about attacks that Jairinho committed against her son a month before the boy’s death.
The messages also demonstrated that the child was subjected to a routine of aggression and torture committed by Jairinho. The discoveries led the Civil Police to conclude that the violence occurred with Monique’s consent.
Indictment
The clues obtained reinforced the theory that Monique tried to mask the attacks and made false statements at the hospital. The objective would be to avoid criminal liability for the partner.
The investigation supported the Public Ministry’s complaint, which accuses the couple of triple murder, torture, coercion during the process and procedural fraud.
Monique is also responsible for ideological falsehood, for having, according to investigations, lied at the hospital to cover up her partner and protect the crime.
