Two years ago, in a case where a mother and daughter were murdered in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture, the trial of the husband indicted in Brazil, where he fled, has begun with witness testimonies.
A woman participating as a witness shared her thoughts on the journey leading up to the trial.
In August two years ago, Manami Aramaki (29 at the time) and her 3-year-old daughter Lily were killed in their apartment in Sakai City, Osaka Prefecture.
After the incident, the husband, Barbosa Anderson Robson (35), a Brazilian National, fled to Brazil. He was arrested there in July last year and subsequently indicted.
The “Proxy Punishment” system under Brazilian law is being applied
Approximately two years after the incident, Brazilian prosecutors announced that closed witness testimonies would take place from October 26 to November 4.
The accused, Barbosa, is being tried under Brazil’s “proxy punishment” system. Since all the witnesses are in Japan, the testimonies are being conducted remotely.
A friend of Ms. Aramaki participated as a witness for about an hour. After consulting with the victim’s family, the friend also agreed to be interviewed by Kansai TV.
The family remains in emotional distress to this day.
“She was a significant presence,” says Ms. Aramaki’s friend
Ms. Aramaki’s Friend:
“To me, she was an incredibly significant presence.”
On the day of the testimony, the friend brought along a photo of Ms. Aramaki and her daughter, displayed in her home, as well as a matching bracelet gifted by Ms. Aramaki.
Ms. Aramaki’s Friend:
“I felt strongly that I needed to testify properly, so the judge could understand just how much she loved her child, how wonderful a woman she was, and how adorable her child was, and so the perpetrator would truly receive a severe punishment.”
Skepticism about the “Proxy Punishment” system
Due to the physical distance and the involvement of interpreters, there has been a lack of detailed explanations about the trial process. Additionally, witness testimonies have been postponed multiple times due to reasons such as the defendant’s lawyer’s schedule. These factors have led to distrust in the “proxy punishment” system.
Ms. Aramaki’s Friend:
“Even though they say they’re implementing proxy punishment, Japan and Brazil aren’t properly coordinating. He claims she killed the child herself and says things that aren’t true just to reduce his own responsibility. It’s infuriating. I want him to take responsibility for his crimes and genuinely atone.”
On November 4, the defendant is scheduled to undergo questioning.
