‘Monster’: New blow for Cecilia Haddad’s killer Mario Marcelo Santoro in his bid for freedom
The family of Sydney businesswoman Cecilia Haddad who was brutally murdered by Mario Marcelo Santoro in 2018, are determined to ensure the “monster” remains behind bars.
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The family of slain Sydney businesswoman Cecilia Haddad has welcomed a Rio court’s decision to keep the “monster” who killed her behind bars.
Mario Marcelo Santoro, who brutally murdered Ms Haddad in 2018 in Sydney, had sought part time release after serving just six years of a 27-year sentence, but his request was rejected.
The Haddad family’s legal team is separately pushing for Santoro’s sentence to be increased under new Brazilian laws to punish men who kill women.
Cecilia’s brother, João Miller Haddad, expressed profound relief upon hearing the court’s decision.
“He’s a monster and he’s in prison where he belongs and must remain,” he stated.
However, Mr Haddad remains vigilant, fearing Santoro may continue to seek early release under the judicial system’s “semi-open regime”.
“Yes, my whole family fears that one day he’ll be freed. He is a cold-blooded killer that committed a brutal crime with absolutely no remorse. He is not a human being,” Mr Haddad added.
In response to Santoro’s ongoing legal efforts to reduce his sentence, the Haddad family has formally requested an increase in his prison term, citing recent changes in Brazilian law. In October 2024, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva signed legislation that reclassifies femicide as a separate crime, increasing the minimum sentence from 12 to 20 years and the maximum from 30 to 40 years. The new law also introduces aggravating factors such as the use of torture or poison, which can lead to harsher penalties.
The Haddad family argues that Santoro’s crime qualifies as femicide under the new legislation, given the nature of the murder and the relationship between the victim and perpetrator. They hope this legal framework will influence the court to impose a more severe sentence, even though she was murdered inside her Ryde apartment in Sydney, Australia.
Brazilian media have reported the new law aims to strengthen legal protections for women and combat gender-based violence. It also prohibits perpetrators of crimes against women from holding public office and increases penalties for crimes committed because of a woman’s sex, such as bodily harm, threats, and failure to comply with protection measures.
The Haddad family’s legal team is preparing to present evidence to the court that Santoro’s actions meet the criteria for femicide, seeking to ensure that he serves a sentence commensurate with the severity of his crime. They remain committed to ensuring that Santoro remains incarcerated and that justice is fully served for Cecilia.
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Originally published as ‘Monster’: New blow for Cecilia Haddad’s killer Mario Marcelo Santoro in his bid for freedom