The woman who wheeled her unresponsive uncle into a bank in a failed bid to take out a loan is claiming she “didn’t realise” he was dead.
The clip of Érika de Souza Vieira Nunes talking to her pallid relative while propping up his limp head has gone viral all over the world.
Clerks were stunned when she tried to get the dead man to sign some papers in a bid to borrow 17,000 BRL (£2,700) on 16 April.
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They called the police, who arrested Nunes, 42, on suspicion of attempted theft by way of fraud and desecration of a corpse.
She spent two weeks in custody before being released on Thursday (2 May).
Police chief, Fábio Luiz Souza earlier stated: “There’s no doubt that Érika was aware of Paulo’s death.
“However, knowing it was her last opportunity to withdraw the loan money, she brought the corpse into the bank.”
But Nunes is maintaining her innocence, as reported on Need To Know.
Following her release, she claimed she didn’t know her relative Paulo Roberto Braga was dead.
She told local media: “It was horrible being away from my family for those days. Very tough.
“It was awful that I didn’t realise my uncle was dead. I’m not the person they’re portraying.
“I’m not that monster.”
When asked if she thought her uncle was too weak to leave the house, Nunes replied: “No, because he asked me to go.”
And she insisted everything was fine in the rideshare car on the way to the branch.
Once inside, Nunes claims she “can’t remember much” due to medication that she takes.
Shortly before the bank visit, Braga had spent a week in hospital with pneumonia before being sent home with prescription meds.
Nunes said: “I thought he would get better.”
Judges ordered her release from custody because she is a first-time offender and does not pose a risk to public order.
She also has a mental health disorder and needs to care for her daughter, who is a minor and has special needs.
The police have opened a parallel investigation into her for involuntary manslaughter.
It’s still not clear when exactly Braga died.
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