Aida Curi's death was never proved to be an accident or a pre-meditated murder. Aida was an 18 year old girl who lived in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro-RJ. She went to school during the day and went to a night time course to become a secretary. She usually came back home with a girl friend of hers. Nobody knows how Aida, who was supposed to be a chaste and shy girl became involved with a group of upper-class play-boys who lured her to get into a Copacabana Beach high rise building. The guys were trying to 'score' and Aida seemed a good prey. Aida took the lifts with Ronaldo and Murilo (who was under 18) with the help of the building's care taker.
They took Aida to the top of the building where they tried to make love to her. When she realized what was happening she pleaded for mercy and got so desperate that she got too close to the edge and ended up losing her balance and falling down the 12 or 14 stories to a certain death on the sidewalks of Avenida Atlantica. That's the story.
Why did this case would never leave the headlines for almost 5 years? The real reason behind is journalist David Nasser who took the case and would never let it go.
David Nasser wrote a popular weekly article on 'O Cruzeiro' the largest illustrated magazine in Brazil. 'O Cruzeiro' was Brazilian's anwer to US's 'Life' and 'Look'.
Nasser maybe was moved by Jamila Curi, Aida's mother who was a widow and very religious. Besides, the Curi family was from an Arab extraction like Nasser himself.
Brazilian high society is a world on its own. Whenever there is a crime involved - they themselves always come to an understanding among themselves to have the whole thing 'sorted out' before it reaches the courts.
In Aida Curi's case it would be the same except for David Nasser who was adamant in taking the two culprits to Justice.
Even though Nasser did everything he could he was fighting against 'old power' and things were not going his way.
Nasser wanted to 'prove' in the pages of the magazine what should be done in a court room. Nasser could have had the sympathies of the Left but he himself had always sided with the most right wing elements in society. It was a battle in the dark.
People in general were on the side of Aida, but the longer the story went, the less people were interested. Besides, everyone knew that 'Justice' in Brazil was only for the rich. What was new?
Proving that Aida was murdered was not easy. It was difficult to prove even that Aida had gone up the building against her will.
How could one prove that Aida was pushed off the top of the building?
Rape was never a serious charge in Brazil. So proving rape was not a big deal. And even rape could not be proved because the technical police didn't find traces of tampering with Aida's genitals.
Ronaldo Guilherme de Sousa Castro, the good looking young man who apparently was the one who caused the whole tragedy - because Aida supposedly was fascinated with his good looks - became heatedly hated by the masses. But ironically Ronaldo was a mild-mannered fellow who could hardly fill the part of the 'villain'. He became instantly famous for his ray-ban glasses.
Cassio Murilo Ferreira da Silva, the younger man, was much more a 'juvenile delinquent' than Ronaldo. Murilo was always putting his foot in his mouth, but he could not be judged by the courts because he was under age.
There was a third man, Antonio João, the janitor or door man. He was not from the working class and apparently only helped the boys to get the girl upstairs.
There were two trials. Ronaldo was found guilty in the first but acquited in the second. He stayed in prison for 3 years. No one knows where they are now or if they are still alive today. September 2014.
Brazilian high society is a world on its own. Whenever there is a crime involved - they themselves always come to an understanding among themselves to have the whole thing 'sorted out' before it reaches the courts.
In Aida Curi's case it would be the same except for David Nasser who was adamant in taking the two culprits to Justice.
Even though Nasser did everything he could he was fighting against 'old power' and things were not going his way.
Nasser wanted to 'prove' in the pages of the magazine what should be done in a court room. Nasser could have had the sympathies of the Left but he himself had always sided with the most right wing elements in society. It was a battle in the dark.
People in general were on the side of Aida, but the longer the story went, the less people were interested. Besides, everyone knew that 'Justice' in Brazil was only for the rich. What was new?
Proving that Aida was murdered was not easy. It was difficult to prove even that Aida had gone up the building against her will.
How could one prove that Aida was pushed off the top of the building?
Rape was never a serious charge in Brazil. So proving rape was not a big deal. And even rape could not be proved because the technical police didn't find traces of tampering with Aida's genitals.
Ronaldo Guilherme de Sousa Castro, the good looking young man who apparently was the one who caused the whole tragedy - because Aida supposedly was fascinated with his good looks - became heatedly hated by the masses. But ironically Ronaldo was a mild-mannered fellow who could hardly fill the part of the 'villain'. He became instantly famous for his ray-ban glasses.
Cassio Murilo Ferreira da Silva, the younger man, was much more a 'juvenile delinquent' than Ronaldo. Murilo was always putting his foot in his mouth, but he could not be judged by the courts because he was under age.
There was a third man, Antonio João, the janitor or door man. He was not from the working class and apparently only helped the boys to get the girl upstairs.
There were two trials. Ronaldo was found guilty in the first but acquited in the second. He stayed in prison for 3 years. No one knows where they are now or if they are still alive today. September 2014.
Aida Curi's retouched photo
Aida Curi's 3x4 photos
Ronaldo Guilherme before the trial and in 1962 after having served 3 years in prison.
Aida's mother Jamila, prays at her daughter's grave at Cajú.
dona Jamila, mãe de Aida, e David Nasser, the journalist that wouldn't let up.
Aida Curi's case was so sensational that it got a special fotonovela on Sétimo Céu.
Ronaldo Guilherme
Aida Curi's burial 15 July 1958.
the infamous janitor Antonio João arriving in court.
Cassio Murilo
commotion at the trial...
