RIO DE JANEIRO – A star goalkeeper whose team won the Brazilian championship in 2009 is on trial and charged with kidnapping an ex-girlfriend and having her killed.
The case starting Monday involves Bruno Fernandes and has shocked Brazil. The player, who goes by the name of Bruno in Brazilian soccer, is accused of orchestrating the kidnapping of 25-year-old model Eliza Samudio.
Prosecutors say Samudio was lured to Minas Gerais state with a false promise that the player would assume paternity of her baby. Investigators say Samudio was held captive at a ranch, killed, quartered and fed to dogs.
Bruno, once the captain of Flamengo, was found guilty in December 2010 on separate charges of kidnapping Samudio and trying to force her to abort the child. Samudio made the accusations before she disappeared in June 2010.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.