The date has finally been set for the trial of Military Police Lieutenant Henrique Otavio Oliveira Velozo, the man who is accused of the murder of Leandro Lo. It has been an incredibly long time coming, as it is almost 3 years since Lo was shot and killed in a Brazilian nightclub. The shooting occurred in August 2022 and although Velozo was apprehended almost immediately, the wheels of the justice system have moved very slowly. The case started suffering delays before it had even begun, but Lo’s friends and family members have never stopped pushing for justice even in the face of adversity.
Originally reported by Brazilian news outlet Metropoles; the trial will begin at 10am on May 22nd, 2025 in Sao Paulo. Since his arrest, Velozo has been residing in the Romao Gomes Military prison and originally had his officer’s salary withheld. A judge later ruled that he could receive that salary, as withholding it would violate his presumption of innocence. While Velozo has been held pending trial, the details of the incident that led to Lo’s murder have been made public. It all began with a disagreement between Lo and Velozo during a show at a nightclub in Sao Paulo, which quickly escalated when Velozo reportedly approached Lo’s table.
It was then that the disagreement turned into a physical altercation, where Lo apparently was able to restrain Velozo on the ground. Lo eventually let Velozo back up, which is when Velozo allegedly took out a gun and shot Lo in the head. Velozo was then indicted on a count of triple-qualified homicide due to the nature of the crime; as it was committed with a vile motive, cruel means, and it was decided to be impossible for Lo to defend himself. If Velozo is found guilty then he would face between 12 and 30 years in prison according to the Code of Criminal Procedure.
Jits Magazine will be following the Leandro Lo murder trial in order to provide updates as it progresses.
