The BBC reports that gunmen intercepted Acioli’s car as she arrived home, and fired at least 16 shots. She died at the scene.
Acioli worked as a criminal court judge for 18 years, convicting more than 60 policemen and former policemen for corruption and links to organized crime. The Judge’s murder came only days after she gave lengthy sentences to former policemen who were involved with organized crime, according to CNN.
Her hard-line approach to organized crime, and tendency to give the maximum sentences to those she convicted, led to more than five years of death threats. CNN also reports that her name was found on a hit list in the possession of a militia leader upon his arrest.
The Ministry of Justice reports that the names of more than 90 judges have been found on hit lists, and are some of the most wanted persons by organized crime members. The president of Brazil's Association of Magistrates, Nelson Calandra, said judges who receive death threats need more protection and the ministry of justice should create a special program in order to do so.
Rio de Janeiro Police Chief Marta Rocha said that 12 suspects have been identified, but their names have not been released to the public.
According to CNN, the lead investigator on the case, Felipe Ettore, said that most of the bullets used in the shooting were from pistols commonly used by civil and military police, and the other bullets came from 45-caliber pistols, used solely by the Brazilian Armed Forces.
A congressional inquiry, aided by human rights organizations, has been launched into corruption in the police force and the increased power of militias in the country.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) claims that there are more than 40,000 homicides in Brazil every year. They also report that Brazil has rampant police corruption, problems with police brutality and extrajudicial executions. "According to an HRW report, “police were responsible for 505 killings in the state of Rio de Janeiro alone in the first six months of 2010."
Brazilian Supreme Court President Cezar Peluso stated that the killing was “an attack on the independence of the judiciary, the state and Brazilian democracy.”
The Supreme Court is pushing for a swift and thorough trial. The BBC quoted Peluso saying. "the preservation of the rule of law in our country demands a rapid investigation of the facts and a rigorous punishment of those responsible for this barbarous act."
