São Paulo Court Upholds Murder Conviction of Paulo Cupertino, Reduces Sentence to 90 Years

The Court of Justice of São Paulo (TJ-SP) has upheld the conviction of Paulo Cupertino for the murders of actor Rafael Miguel and his parents, Mirian and João Miguel, in 2019. The court confirmed the original jury verdict, the defendant's imprisonment, and the validity of the trial. The sole modification was a technical adjustment to Cupertino's sentence, reducing it from 98 years to 90 years. This change was made to comply with the legal maximum of 30 years per homicide at the time of the crime, but it does not alter his guilt or responsibility. Cupertino's defense had appealed, seeking to annul the process based on claims of procedural errors, including violations of the principle of natural prosecutor, chain of custody breaches, and defense limitations. They also requested a sentence reduction and the exclusion of unfavorable judicial circumstances. The appellate judges rejected all preliminary arguments, finding no violation of the natural prosecutor principle, no chain of custody issues, and no prejudice to the defense. Cupertino, who was reportedly opposed to his daughter Isabela Tibcherani's relationship with Rafael Miguel, had denied the killings, claiming an unidentified person was responsible. However, evidence including security camera footage showing Cupertino fleeing the scene and testimony from his daughter and ex-wife supported his guilt. He remained a fugitive for nearly three years before his arrest in 2022.