Homicide at the Brazilian Senate
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brazil
| Death of José Kairala | |
|---|---|
 Photograph depicting the moment after the incident | |
| Location | Federal Senate in Brasília, Federal District Brazil |
| Date | 4 December 1963 |
| Target | Silvestre Péricles (PST-AL) |
Attack type | Legislative violence |
| Deaths | José Kairala (PSD-AC) |
| Assailant | Arnon de Melo (PDC-AL) |
| Motive | Fight between senators Arnon de Melo and Silvestre Péricles |
| Verdict | Acquitted for self-defense |
The homicide at the Brazilian Federal Senate occurred on December 4, 1963 inside the Brazilian Federal Senate, at Brasília. The event involved a shooting carried out by senator Arnon de Melo (PDC-AL), who tried to shoot senator Silvestre Péricles (PST-AL) and ended up hitting and killing substitute Senator José Kairala (PSD-AC).[1][2][3][4]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Video containing the audio of the senate session |
The confusion began some time before, with discussions between Senators Arnon de Melo and Silvestre Pericles, because both were from families with certain political notoriety in the state of Alagoas, the rise of both families in politics ended up generating a certain conflict.[1]
This ascension affected mainly the Pericles, who had been in regional and federal political positions longer than the Mello's, who would later occupy more relevant positions with the arrival of Fernando Collor de Mello, Arnon's son, to the presidency of Brazil.[5]
Then Pericles had been provoking Arnon, who, to defend himself from a supposed threat, started carrying a gun.[6]
Shooting
Arnon, who had attended few sessions of the Senate, was provoked by Pericles to attend even the federal session on December 4, 1963.[7][2]
After these provocations, Arnon came to the session armed. Knowing the risk he was taking, Pericles also came to the session armed.[1]
After asking for the floor, Arnon made a speech talking about the threats he and his family were facing, and when Pericles started to advance, Arnon shot him. Pericles threw himself on the ground, drawing his gun, but João Agripino prevented him from shooting Arnon.[6]
After the shooting, it was found that a third senator who was trying to break up the fight was hit. That senator was José Kairala, from the state of Acre and from the same party as Pericles.[3]
José Kairala was occupying the section as a substitute due a health problem suffered by senator José Guiomard. Because it was his last session in the Federal Senate, Kairala had brought his wife and children to attend the session.[2][1] He died at the hospital later that day. Because of the confusion, the session was canceled until further notice by its president, Auro de Moura Andrade.[1][6]
