Alleged Mastermind in Murders of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira to Stand Trial in Brazil
A federal judge in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, has ruled that Ruben Dario da Silva Villar, known as 'Colômbia', will stand trial for allegedly masterminding the murders of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian activist Bruno Pereira. The murders occurred in June 2022 near the Amazonian town of Atalaia do Norte. Silva Villar is accused of leading a criminal network that targeted Pereira due to his efforts against illegal fishing in the Javari Valley Indigenous territory. The judge found sufficient evidence to proceed with charges of double-qualified homicide and concealment of corpses. The trial will focus on Silva Villar's alleged role in orchestrating the murders, despite not directly carrying them out. 
