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RIO DE JANEIRO, December 7, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Brazilian soccer star Bruno Souza has been sentenced to 54 months in prison following his conviction on charges of private imprisonment, bodily harm, and illegal constraint against his now-disappeared girlfriend, who accused him of attempting to forcibly abort their child.

Eliza Samudio reported to police in October of 2009 that Souza had kidnapped her, assaulted her and forced her to take abortifacient drugs in an attempt to kill their child. A urine sample she gave to the police at the time was tested and found positive for traces of two abortion-inducing substances

However, the attempt on her child’s life failed, and Samudio gave birth to a son earlier this year. After reportedly pressuring Souza for a DNA paternity test, Samudio disappeared. Souza is also facing trial in the city of Belo Horizante for her murder. Souza’s wife and seven other accomplices have also been accused of aiding in the crime. 

Samudio’s child, who was found in the custody of Souza’s wife, has been transferred to the care of Samudio’s father. Samudio’s body has never been found.

In his ruling, Judge Marco Couto denounced Souza’s “cowardice,” noting that “having met the victim at a particular event (an orgy in the version of the accused and a barbeque in the version of the victim) and opting for irresponsible sex, it was not proper for him to carry out the role he played upon learning of the pregnancy of the victim.”

“To his cowardice, then, a proper penal response is imposed.  It is true that the accused has does not have [a record of] previous offenses.  But his personality, based on what we have seen, revealed itself to be criminal,” he added.