Man 'locked wife in cellar for 16 years'

[Feuer Frei!]

A MAN has been arrested in southeastern Brazil for allegedly keeping his wife locked in a cellar for 16 years. Police acting on a tip-off found the 64-year-old woman padlocked in a moldy, filth-ridden cellar.
She was discovered lying naked on a concrete bed in the 12 square meter (130 square foot) room, with only a blanket to cover her, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Joao Batista Groppo, the woman's husband of 40 years, told police that he kept her locked away because she was mentally ill.
The 64-year-old suspect reportedly told officers he did not provide her with any form of lighting to avoid wasting energy.


During the woman's alleged imprisonment, Groppo shared the house in Sorocaba, about 60 miles (97 km) west of Sao Paulo, with his girlfriend Maria Aparecida Furquim, the paper said.
She was arrested Wednesday as an alleged accomplice.
The couple was charged with false imprisonment, authorities said. They could each face eight years in prison if convicted.


*Note underlined. 8 years? Wait...what?
Another clear cut case of the justice system failing, and not being harsh enough.
Certainly, if found guilty, shouldn't they both serve at least 16 years? Each?
The length of time the victim allegedly was 'imprisoned'?
The other operative word being 'could'.
They could face jail.
Seems only fair.

[Schroeder]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

*Note underlined. 8 years? Wait...what?
Another clear cut case of the justice system failing, and not being harsh enough.
Certainly, if found guilty, shouldn't they both serve at least 16 years? Each?
The length of time the victim allegedly was 'imprisoned'?
The other operative word being 'could'.
They could face jail.
Seems only fair.

Same thoughts here...

[Platapus]

Originally Posted by Feuer Frei!

A MAN has been arrested in southeastern Brazil for allegedly keeping his wife locked in a cellar for 16 years.

I can sense from your intonation that you think there is a problem with this?



<The Frau comes into my office>

SMACK!

Ow! I am kidding! Just kidding!!

[Platapus]

Seriously, though, These are just the initial charges. They have to be charged with something to start the process. Under Brazilian law, the prosecutors can only file the final charges after the police investigation.

Let's wait until we hear the final list of charges before getting upset.

And it appears that he locked her up for "only" 8 years. The sad thing is that this was confirmed by his son.

His son.

What kind of son allows his father to lock up his mother even if for "only" 8 years? That is one messed up family.

You wanna really get anger? Guess who they released the wife to when she was released from the hospital?

The son. I hope, really hope it was a different son. I really do.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Seriously, though, These are just the initial charges. They have to be charged with something to start the process. Under Brazilian law, the prosecutors can only file the final charges after the police investigation.

Let's wait until we hear the final list of charges before getting upset.

And it appears that he locked her up for "only" 8 years. The sad thing is that this was confirmed by his son.

His son.

What kind of son allows his father to lock up his mother even if for "only" 8 years? That is one messed up family.

You wanna really get anger? Guess who they released the wife to when she was released from the hospital?

The son. I hope, really hope it was a different son. I really do.

I'll second that

[gimpy117]

I think its the initial charge because they stated she was "mentally Ill".

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by gimpy117

I think its the initial charge because they stated she was "mentally Ill".

Hardly suprising after so many years of incarceration.