Brazilian authorities arrested a woman for allegedly poisoning a Christmas cake with arsenic, killing three and hospitalizing three in Rio Grande do Sul. Another New Year's incident in Piauí left three dead from rat poison-laced food. Both cases are under murder investigations.
Brazilian authorities have arrested a woman for allegedly poisoning a Christmas cake with arsenic, resulting in three deaths and three hospitalisations in Torres, Rio Grande do Sul.
The suspect, identified in local media as Deise, is the daughter-in-law of the cake's baker and has been charged with triple homicide and three counts of attempted homicide.
Police announced on Monday that forensic analysis revealed lethal levels of arsenic in both the victims' bodies and the cake ingredients.
"These concentrations are so high that it's impossible to consider it a natural contamination," said Marguet Mittmann, director general of the General Institute of Expertise, at a press conference.
Police official Marcos Veloso confirmed "strong evidence" against the suspect, who had reportedly experienced family conflicts spanning more than two decades.
Sisters Maida da Silva, 58, and Neuza dos Anjos, 65, along with Neuza's 43-year-old daughter Tatiana, died after consuming the cake. Zeli dos Anjos, 60, who baked the cake and is the sister of Maida da Silva and Neuza dos Anjos, remains in intensive care with her 10-year-old great-nephew. Witnesses reported noticing a "spicy" and "unpleasant" flavour in the cake.
"To give an idea, 35 micrograms are enough to cause the death of a person. In one of the victims there was a concentration 350 times higher," Mittmann stated.
“These concentrations are so high that it’s impossible to consider it a natural contamination,” Mittmann added.
Tests showed the flour used contained arsenic levels 2,700 times above the legal limit. The investigation has led police to reexamine the September death of Zeli's husband, previously attributed to natural food poisoning.
In a separate incident during New Year's celebrations in Parnaíba, Piauí, three family members died after eating a meal containing rat poison.
Police chief Abimael Silva reported, "Someone put the substance in the rice on the first day. We understand that there was an intention to put this substance in their food, and we're going to start a murder investigation, ruling out natural or accidental death."
The New Year's incident claimed the lives of one-year-old Igno Davi da Silva, his three-year-old sister Lauane, and their uncle Manoel, 18. Their mother, Francisca Maria, and a four-year-old sibling remain hospitalised.
According to Maria dos Aflitos da Silva, grandmother of the children, an intruder may have contaminated the family's food.
Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad urged the European Union to consider the political significance of its trade deal with Mercosur rather than focusing solely on economic factors.
Brazil’s top court has ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro must face trial for allegedly attempting to overturn the 2022 election.
Brazil’s government on Tuesday unveiled a long-promised income tax reform aimed at exempting individuals earning up to 5,000 reais (approximately $881) per month from paying income tax.
Ireland has committed €15 million ($16.3 million) to Brazil's Amazon Fund over the next three years, aiming to support efforts to combat deforestation in the world's largest tropical rainforest.
Brazil has recalled Neymar for this month's World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Argentina, marking his return to the national team after more than a year.
The upcoming Beatles biopic will be told through four films.
Russian billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of Rusagro, faces charges of embezzling 30 billion roubles ($357 million). His arrest is among the most high-profile in Russia’s business world in recent years.
The Swiss government announced on Tuesday that the value of Russian assets frozen in the country has risen to 7.4 billion Swiss francs ($8.38 billion) by the end of March 2025, up from 5.8 billion francs last year, due to newly identified funds and ongoing investigations into sanctions violations.
Aid groups in Myanmar’s worst-hit areas urgently need shelter, food, and water after a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake killed over 2,700 people. Rescue efforts face challenges due to ongoing civil war, damaged infrastructure, and restricted aid access, with the toll expected to rise.
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen was banned from running for public office for five years after being convicted of embezzlement, ruling her out of the 2027 presidential race. She received a four-year prison sentence, with two years suspended, and a €100,000 fine. Le Pen plans to appeal.
Apple marked its 49th anniversary by reaching a market capitalization of $3.3 trillion. Despite recent tech stock volatility, Apple's shares surged 28% in 2024.
The Armenian armed forces attempted three reconnaissance drone flights over Azerbaijan Army positions near Gerenzur, but all were successfully intercepted. Meanwhile, Armenian units repeatedly fired on Azerbaijani positions from multiple regions, escalating tensions in the area.
Russian billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of Rusagro, faces charges of embezzling 30 billion roubles ($357 million). His arrest is among the most high-profile in Russia’s business world in recent years.
India's government has introduced a bill proposing sweeping reforms in the management of waqf properties, allowing non-Muslim members on waqf boards and enabling the state to determine disputed land ownership, sparking concerns among Muslim groups and opposition lawmakers.
Greece plans to invest €25 billion in a sweeping multi-year defence strategy, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told parliament on Wednesday, marking a major step in modernising the country’s armed forces and reinforcing its strategic posture amid regional tensions and global uncertainty.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on Wednesday, as both nations looked to deepen their strategic partnership and navigate rising global tensions through renewed diplomatic and economic cooperation.
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to appear in court on Wednesday over allegations of failing to pay €1 million in taxes on image rights earnings during his first tenure at the club. Prosecutors seek a prison sentence of nearly five years and a €3.2 million fine.
The upcoming Beatles biopic will be told through four films.
Russian billionaire Vadim Moshkovich, founder of Rusagro, faces charges of embezzling 30 billion roubles ($357 million). His arrest is among the most high-profile in Russia’s business world in recent years.
The Swiss government announced on Tuesday that the value of Russian assets frozen in the country has risen to 7.4 billion Swiss francs ($8.38 billion) by the end of March 2025, up from 5.8 billion francs last year, due to newly identified funds and ongoing investigations into sanctions violations.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment