Brazil ex-general tells court docket he drafted Lula assassination doc

General Mario Fernandes, a former performing chief of the General Secretariat of the presidency beneath Bolsonaro, confirmed in his testimony on Thursday that he drafted and printed the doc, although he described it as a private “thought” of his.

The far-right Bolsonaro is on trial for allegedly plotting a coup to cling to energy after shedding the 2022 election to leftist Lula da Silva.

The plot allegedly included a plan — dubbed “Green and Yellow Dagger,” after the colours of Brazil’s flag and Bolsonaro’s celebration — to assassinate Lula, in accordance with prosecutors.

“That digital file only reflects a thought of mine, a compilation of data, a study of the situation,” Fernandes mentioned through videoconference throughout interrogations of about 30 former Bolsonaro associates on trial alongside the ex-president.

Fernandes mentioned he printed the doc on the Planalto presidential workplace solely to learn it “on paper” after which tore it up.

“It was not presented to anyone, it was not shared by anyone,” he added.

However, prosecutors accused the retired army officer of taking the plan to the Alvorada presidential residence for “negotiations” with Bolsonaro on December 6, 2022.

That similar day, Bolsonaro obtained a draft decree considering distinctive measures to annul the election outcomes, in accordance with investigators.

The alleged “Green and Yellow Dagger” plan was to be carried out on December 15, 2022, and likewise deliberate to kill then-vice president-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who’s presently presiding over Bolsonaro’s trial.

The plot was allegedly unsuccessful as a result of lack of help from senior army commanders.

Last week, prosecutors requested Bolsonaro’s conviction. If discovered responsible, the 70-year-old may withstand 40 years in jail.