The Federal Law known as “Henry Borel Law” turns four years old this Sunday (24)the day before the popular jury in the case, which takes place this Monday (25).
The law, following the death of Henry Borel, which occurred in March 2021, aims to toughen penalties for crimes committed against children and adolescents and provides protection measures for victims of family violence.
Among the changes in legislation, the homicide of children under 14 years of age began to be considered a heinous crime (which does not allow for the definition of bail or pardon). Furthermore, the law also determined that the perpetrator of the crime begins serving his sentence in a closed regime.
Last Wednesday (2), the 5th class of the STJ (Superior Court of Justice), the request made by the former councilor’s defense Jairo Souza Santos JuniorDr. Jairinho, to annul the expert reports linked to the case of Henry’s death.
The former councilman is responsible for the qualified homicide of the child, his stepson, and will be tried by the Jury Court, along with your ex-wife Monique Medeirosmother of Henry.
After the sanction, the legislation created child protection mechanisms, establishing urgent protective measures similar to those provided for in the Maria da Penha Law. According to the Brazilian Public Security Forum, since the law came into force, more than nine thousand protective measures have been authorized amid around 15 thousand registered notifications.
“The Henry Borel Law was born out of irreparable pain, but it became an instrument of protection for thousands of Brazilian children. Henry’s greatest legacy is helping to save lives”, declared Leniel Borel, Henry’s father, president of the Henry Borel Association and co-author of the federal legislation.
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According to the association, among the changes that the law has presented since it was sanctioned are:
- the creation of urgent protective measures for children and adolescents who are victims of domestic and family violence;
- possibility of immediate removal of the aggressor from the victim;
- inclusion of homicide against children under 14 years of age in the list of qualified homicides;
- inclusion of homicide against children under 14 years of age in the list of heinous crimes;
- increased penalties for crimes committed against children and adolescents;
- reduction of child revictimization during statements and consultations;
- prohibition of decriminalizing benefits for crimes committed against children and adolescents;
- and facilitating the loss of family power in serious cases of violence.
Remember the case
At just 4 years old, Henry Borel was killed on March 8, 2021. The report of the IML (Medical-Legal Institute) identified 23 injuries in the child’s body, discarding the hypothesis of a domestic accident maintained by the defendants at the time.
Monique Medeiros responds for triple homicide (by omission), torture, coercion during the process, procedural fraud and ideological falsehood. She has remained in prison since April 2025, after the minister of the STF (Supreme Federal Court) Gilmar Mendes again ordered his preventive detention.
Already the Dr. Jairinho remains imprisoned in Gericinó Complex, accused of being the perpetrator of the attacks.
Initially, the date was set for March 23rd. During the session, the Jairo’s defense lawyers left the plenary. As the defendant could not respond without his defense, the trial had to be postponed.
When contacted, Dr. Jairinho’s defense informed that, in their view, the reports present contradictions between themselves and that there is no “logicality” of the evidence. They claim that the contradiction will be presented to the jurors of the Jury Court.
