An elderly lawyer was pushed down a flight of stairs during a row with the building manager.
Shocking CCTV footage shows how Sonia Maria do Socorro Fernandes tumbled down the hard steps after a heavy shove in the back.
Instead of going down to check on her, the property manager and her son could be seen simply closing the door behind them.
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The trouble began when Sonia, 70, went to ask Carmem Silva Ferreira Marques for some bills she said she hadn’t been receiving.
The manager’s son Juan Carlos Marques de Deus then began arguing with her
One of Sonia’s clients, who was with her at the time, then began recording.
Moments later, Marques, 65, stepped out of the office and allegedly tried to grab her phone.
This caused her to lose her balance and nearly fall down the stairs.
Marques then went back into the office and continued arguing with her.
A short while later, Sonia was allegedly pushed and took a nasty tumble down the staircase.
Witnesses say she was knocked unconscious for more than five minutes.
The fire brigade arrived at the scene in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and took her to a hospital, where she received 15 stitches to the head.
De Deus left the building before the police, who’d been called by Sonia’s client, arrived.
He remains a wanted man.
Marques was arrested and released from custody, as reported by Need To Know.
Lawyer Melissa Marques, who is representing the pair, has since stated: “There’s a history of Sonia harassing the building manager, including assaults on staff and sabotage of the building’s security system.
“Her claim of looking for the bills doesn’t hold up, as they are available online.
“As a lawyer, Sonia knew that there was no need to invade a home and assault people to obtain such a document.
“Carmem’s son didn’t retaliate. He only tried to protect his mother.
“Sonia fell when being removed from the premises, but there was no intention to push her down the stairs, which will be proven.”
However, Sonia claimed to local media: “They both pushed me. I never thought they’d throw me down the stairs.
“When I was thrown, I thought I was going to die.
“I don’t know how long I was unconscious, but when I woke up, I was covered in blood, and my companion called the Fire Department and my family.
“The stairs were all covered in blood, and I couldn’t remember much.”
Sonia had previously undergone spinal surgery and has had to use two crutches since the push.
She said: “I’m in pain all over. My body hurts. My head hurts, my back hurts, and I’m having trouble walking.
“I just hope they pay for this.”
