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Murderer who claimed wife stabbed herself to death now argues defence of provocation should have been open

Summary

In February 2023 the Court of Appeal heard the appeal of Renato Gehlen, a 40‑year‑old Brazilian who was convicted of murdering his wife, Anne Colomines, in October 2017. Gehlen had denied the murder and claimed that Colomines stabbed herself during a struggle. The jury had rejected this claim, finding the wounds unlikely to be self‑inflicted, and had convicted Gehlen of murder, sentencing him to mandatory life imprisonment. At the appeal, Gehlen's lawyers argued that a defence of provocation and loss of self‑control had not been allowed to be presented to the jury. The judges, however, noted that there was no evidence of Gehlen's loss of control and that a provocation defence would be inconsistent with the evidence of the fatal wounds. The court reserved its judgment on the appeal. The case remains at the appellate stage.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Murderer who claimed wife stabbed herself to death now argues defence of provocation should have been open. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

• October 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
• October 25, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
• 2023-02-14 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Appeal Violent Crime

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Read the original CNI report