Isabela was 18 when she dated Rafael Miguel. Paulo Cupertino is accused of the murder of the young man and his parents in 2019
Isabela Tibcherani said in a statement recorded in court that her father, Paulo Cupertino, kept her trapped in the house for eight months after finding out about her affair with actor Rafael Miguel. Cupertino is accused of the murder of the young man and his parents in 2019, in Sao Paulo.
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The video of Isabela’s testimony was released by the portal G1. The killer’s daughter and her mother, Paulo’s ex-wife Vanessa, testified against him on October 10. The two became emotional and cried during the testimonies, which lasted more than two hours, at the Barra Funda Criminal Court, in the western area of the capital of São Paulo.
Vanessa was the first to testify. She reported that her ex-husband was aggressive and hit her and Isabela, especially after he found out she was dating Rafael. He went so far as to keep his daughter trapped in the house for eight months. Cupertino also scoffed at the situation, saying his daughter would only be able to date after she turned 30, and only if he let her.
On June 9, 2019, Paulo Cupertino killed Rafael, 22, and the couple João Miguel, 52, and Miriam, 50, with 13 shots, according to the Public Prosecutor (MP). He would have committed the crime out of jealousy and because he did not accept his daughter’s relationship with the artist. Isabela was 18 at the time and is currently 23.
Eight months at home
During the testimony, the representative of the Public Prosecutor, Prosecutor Soraia Simões, asked Isabela about the punishment she received when her father discovered her affair with Rafael.
“Eight months, without contact, without cell phones, without socializing with other people, only inside the house”, said the young woman. She recalled that her father also forbade her from having a relationship with Rafael or any other boy and monitored her cell phone.
“He would say in jokes and side conversations with people he knew, ‘You’ll only date after you’re 30, if I let you,'” she continued. Even though she was away from Rafael, she used her mother’s cell phone to talk to her boyfriend. In total, the relationship lasted just over a year. They met again for the last time on the day of his death.
Rafael and his parents decided to take Isabela to her house, but when they got there they found Cupertino opening the gate. According to Isabela, her father dragged her inside, closed the door and she heard gunshots.
“Rafael’s mother, when she saw my father, said, ‘Are you Isabela’s father?’ “No, I’m the mother.” He pulled in and closed the gate aggressively. Then Rafael came and said: “No, let’s talk.” (…) And I heard my voice saying: “Speak, nothing.” And from that moment on I only heard shots. I went out and met the scene, which was Rafa’s body on top of his mother’s, which was near the driving (…), which was near the car, and Rafael’s father’s body was in the middle of the road ( …) I didn’t have time to do much.”
Vanessa calls her ex a “mythomaniac”
Cupertino’s defense even declared to the press that he was not the one who shot the three victims and that the crime was committed by another, unidentified person who fled after the incident.
Isabela and Vanessa did not see how Rafael, Miriam and João were killed, but they said that the person who killed them was Paulo Cupertino. They lived in a house on Estrada do Alvarenga, in the Pedreira neighborhood. Security cameras captured the crime and Paulo’s escape. In testimony, Vanessa called him a liar and misogynist.
“It is very strange that a person vehemently, vehemently denies being such… ah, I have the word: mythomaniac. To the point of speaking and affirming so firmly that he has not committed any crime when, at the door of the house where he he found Rafael’s body, with a gunshot to the head and several others to the body, Mrs. Miriam on the pavement… Mr. João Alcisio rolling down the street… and the place was glued wall to wall… One camera here, another here Sorry, mate, it’s producing evidence against yourself,” Vanessa told the court.
The lawyer was fired
Paulo Cupertino, 54, is in prison, and followed the testimony of his ex-wife, 44, in handcuffs. He was unable to hear his daughter’s testimony because he was removed from the plenary session by court order, at her request. Angered by the situation, the defendant fired his lawyer during the break. Therefore, the trial had to be canceled, as ruled by Judge Antonio Souza.
In other words, the magistrate dissolved the Sentencing Council, that is, he removed the seven jurors chosen for that jury. Now Cupertino will have to choose a new lawyer to defend him or receive free assistance from the Public Defender’s Office.
When this happens, the Court will set a new date for the trial and new jurors will be chosen. Cupertino is responsible for a triple double murder, for a futile reason and an appeal that made it impossible for the victims to defend themselves.
Among the defendants there are also friends from Cupertino
In addition to Cupertino, his friends Eduardo Machado, 45, and Wanderley Senhora, 59, are also charged and will be tried at another time. They are accused of helping the businessman escape and hide after the crime. Both deny the charges and remain free.
Cupertino hid in other states and countries, being arrested nearly three years later, on May 17, 2022, in a Sao Paulo hotel, disguised and with a false identity. After being arrested, he told reporters that he was “innocent” and had not killed “anyone”, but remained silent during interrogation and did not speak about the case to the court.
The businessman is currently detained at the Guarulhos Provisional Detention Center (CDP).
Testimony at the trial
Prosecutor Soraia wants Vanessa and Isabela to be present at the retrial to make statements about the crime, but they are not obligated to go. Thirteen other witnesses are also expected to testify. The prosecutor believes that it will be important to listen to Vanessa and Isabela again.
Videos of their previous testimony may be shown at trial. The defendants will then be questioned and the jurors will decide whether to convict or acquit the defendant, with the judge’s ruling.
Rafael Miguel became known to the media for playing the character Paçoca in the soap opera Chiquititasfrom SBT. He also starred in a famous commercial for a brand of yogurt, in which he asks his mother for broccoli. The young man also starred in soap operas such as Globo Foot in Jaca, Cat bed and the end-of-year special The boy emperor’s Christmas.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
