2011-02-25 - Riders Down, Critical Mass, Porto Alegre, Brasil

-11 for the legal system

Self-defence? I'm speechless...

good news:

[B]*Charges have been upgraded to attempted murder*[/B]

**Update March 1st:**  The accused, Ricardo Neis was originally charged with criminal  negligence (without intent), but on Tuesday the police decided to  upgrade the charges to attempted murder (with intent) after completing  interviews yesterday with the accused and witnesses. From the latest on [Zero Hora](http://zerohora.clicrbs.com.br/zerohora/jsp/default.jsp?uf=1&local=1&section=Geral&newsID=a3225387.xml):
[INDENT]     “In  testimony he was able to verify that he was aware of the consequence of  the attitude. The testimony convinced the sense that we needed to know  whether he had the real sense. And we found it: he, in a state of panic,  as reported, has told us clearly that he was aware of the consequences  of that act - the chief explained Rodrigo Garcia, communications  coordinator of the Civil Police in Rio Grande do Sul.
  According  to Garcia, the police eventually changing the classification of the  criminal investigation because of the clear science that Neis had about  what would happen if he accelerated on to the riders. The case had been  registered as criminal negligent injury (not intended) but was changed  after the deposition of the hit.”

[/INDENT]

Thats great news. now hopefully it goes the whole hog and appropriate conviction is handed out with an appropriate sentence.

Banker in prison... In Brazil... yep, he's fucked.

Thanks to the people on here who put me in touch with people out there. Constantly surprised how far LFGSS reaches...

There's a protest march in Brazil to tonight: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2011/mar/01/diver-brazilian-critical-mass-ride

Why do I lways get suckered into reading the commnets!?
4 bloody 35 AM!

...And they've made me angry

I do, too, Multi Grooves. Every stinkin' time.

I'm so glad to hear the charges have been upgraded, let's hope that the appropriate thing is done in this case.

[B]*Court has ordered the arrest of Ricardo Neis*[/B]

**Update March 1st, 9:35PM:**  Late on Tuesday evening, the court has ordered the arrest of Ricardo  Neis based on the evidence that has been provided. Neis had reportedly  checked himself into a psychiatric hospital this afternoon before the  court approved the arrest warrant this evening.

cunt!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSDJTK7QnKU

*"I'm really sorry, but I had no other option"... *

He's probably the most hated guy in Brazil... maybe not, he's likely to get away.
I've just read a piece where it's reported, only last week a driver killed a whole
family in some Brazilian city, and got away with a fine, he was not arrested.
This cunt has the nerve to call for "reason" and "comprehension" for his side of the facts.
He has got money, he probably won't get nailed.
I'm disgusted.

He says "...they were trying to aggress me...I had no other choice, I had to flee that place otherwise I would be lynched..."

Hope he does get lynched.

Dick, I hope Brazil gets this sorted with appropriate and bribe-free measures.
If not, how much does a hitman go for these days in Brazil?

Him being a banker in Brazil is already enough reason to be a target, in a society like that, violence it's too much of a given everywhere you look. I bet he won't have another day of rest in his life.
I personally don't support the guy to be lynched in public, but it's very likely the criminal system there takes advantage of him being able to pay a ridiculous amount of money to stay out.
It's very common.

... 1) This is Brasil...not the US, Canada, or anywhere in Europe. Although people in those areas may piss themselves on a regular basis on the sight of cop while driving, here is another story. The police don't stop people here for infractions unless they are running a "blitz" (similar to a road block), you hit someone (or something) and actually stop, or do something so spectacularly stupid in front of them that they NEED to stop you. Other than that, people tend to do what ever the fuck they want on the roads. ...

Continues here.

^^^^
cunt!

3) These cyclists, even though their cause may be in the right, did mostly everything WRONG. Yes, in a perfect society everyone follows the laws, but no one, anywhere , lives in a perfect society. Knowing that what you are doing has the chance of provoking the mentally unstable or criminally minded into action means you lack the common sense and responsibility to be an adult.
hmm. No. I don't think anyone thought it would provoke what he did. Secondly, this attitude universally blames the victim for any crime.

There's no two sides to this.

Also, his state of mind is brought in to question, and justifiably, it's clear he simply didn't care about any of the poeple he mowed down. As far as he's concerned they were fair game, like ants he could jump stamp on.

As far as he's concerned they were fair game, like ants he could jump stamp on.

i couldnt agree more. and if he felt threathened, he's guilty as charged, he ran over people on purpose. what impress me more is the fact that he had been approved in many psycological tests (had many banking jobs, had gun carrying license, etc) but dont show any regard for others. apparently his 15yo son was also in the car -- can someone tell me what kind of nutter this boy will become (since the incident or just by having that father)?

a guy like that deserves to dragged naked in the asphalt and left for worms to eat his flesh alive. but imho he will get what's in for him, brazil likes to set examples of some people, and he does deserve that.

Can we write to anyone to make we get the result we want?

that's not a bad idea, but i think the uk (generally speaking) wouldnt mess with that. it seems to be an internal affair mainly. what could be done tho, is to get this subject to a more broad (london townhall, road dept?) level and assure the uk community understands and respects cyclists. i'm sure that those videos would repulse the shit out of most people, and they would then think twice before trying to be smart-asses.

i normally get the eye from some drivers when i'm on the road, but drivers seem to be a lot more abusive/agressive towards smaller and more defenseless people (read: missus).

psycological tests… deserves to dragged naked in the asphalt and left for worms to eat his flesh alive.

And that judgement came from your 'sound' mind :/

What you mean? I'm no psycho, I only run down peds with my bike! :D

But seriously, that shit in brazil was fucked up. Pisses me off the fact that some think they can get away with whatever. What type of sentence would someone get for that in the uk (considering a proper guilty verdict)? In brazil there's a max ever sentence of 30 years, that can easily be reduced when it's a first time criminal plus money, corruption and said 'good behaviour'. I may be asking too much, but I would like to see more respect for riders -- cos I know I respect a ton metal cage on wheels.

i thought i should update this with some 'recent' info.
the driver is now in jail waiting for court. has had denied a request to bail and the psycological tests showed he was not 'mentally ill' as the defensor tried to use.

looks like he'll go down good. hopefully gets max jail term and makes other such idiots aware to respect cyclists anywhere in the world.

great stuff

Fuck ! That video is horrendous ! Glad no one was seriously injured or worse !

Quick update:
(March 2011)

The guy's being prosecuted with 17 charges of Voluntary Manslaughter, 'triple qualified' as in, x3 in the intention.. Brazilian law.
They tried to check him in to a mental institution but he's absolutely sane, he has however, records of previous cases of assault whilst driving, and violent behavior.