Even experienced hands were unwilling to take the case
Na sombra de uma morte que abalou o Rio de Janeiro, a família do vereador Doutor Jairinho busca um novo advogado para enfrentar o peso jurídico e moral do caso Henry Borel — uma criança de oito anos cuja morte tornou-se símbolo de escrutínio público e responsabilização. A recusa de nomes experientes, como Luciana Pires, revela que há casos em que a reputação pesa mais do que qualquer honorário, e que o silêncio de quem declina fala tão alto quanto qualquer alegação jurídica. O movimento de bastidores em torno da defesa sugere que o processo não é apenas uma batalha legal, mas um teste sobre quem está disposto a carregar o fardo de representar o indefensável aos olhos do público.
- A morte do menino Henry Borel, oito anos, mantém o vereador Doutor Jairinho no centro de um dos casos mais acompanhados da justiça carioca.
- A troca do advogado André Barreto indica uma defesa em reconfiguração — possivelmente fragilizada — enquanto o processo avança.
- Luciana Pires, advogada de Flávio Bolsonaro e ex-defensora do pai de Jairinho, foi sondada mas recusou, alegando conflito com seus clientes atuais.
- Pires negou publicamente ter sido procurada, transformando a própria negativa em mais um elemento de disputa narrativa no caso.
- A dificuldade em encontrar representação de alto nível revela o peso reputacional do caso — um sinal de que até advogados experientes calculam os custos de se associar a ele.
A família do vereador carioca Doutor Jairinho iniciou uma busca por novo advogado no caso que investiga a morte de Henry Borel, oito anos — uma criança cuja história mobilizou a opinião pública e aprofundou o escrutínio sobre o parlamentar. O atual defensor, André Barreto, estava sendo substituído, e a família partiu em busca de nomes de peso para assumir a representação.
Entre os sondados estava Luciana Pires, advogada conhecida por defender Flávio Bolsonaro e que, no passado, também havia representado Coronel Jairo — pai de Jairinho — preso durante a Operação Furna da Onça. Sua experiência com casos politicamente sensíveis e sua proximidade com o círculo familiar faziam dela uma candidata natural. Ainda assim, ela recusou, alegando que a defesa do filho do presidente já ocupava inteiramente sua agenda e atenção.
Ao ser procurada pela imprensa, Pires negou ter sido sondada. Essa negativa, pequena em aparência, tornou-se reveladora: em um caso já marcado por manobras estratégicas, até os silêncios e desmentidos carregam significado. A dificuldade da família em garantir representação de alto nível aponta para algo além da logística jurídica — o caso Henry Borel tornou-se o tipo de processo que advogados experientes pesam com cuidado antes de aceitar, independentemente de conexões ou valores envolvidos.
The family of Rio de Janeiro councilman Doutor Jairinho was hunting for a new lawyer. Their current attorney, André Barreto, was being replaced in the case surrounding the death of eight-year-old Henry Borel—a death that had drawn intense public scrutiny and legal complexity. According to reporting by journalist Lauro Jardim in O Globo, the search had begun in earnest, and the family was willing to approach high-profile names to secure representation.
One of those approached was Luciana Pires, a lawyer known for defending Flávio Bolsonaro, the president's son. Pires had also previously represented Jairinho's own father, Coronel Jairo, a federal deputy who had been arrested during Operation Furna da Onça, a major federal investigation. On the surface, her experience with sensitive political cases and her connection to the family's orbit made her a logical candidate. But Pires declined. Her reason was straightforward: her existing representation of Flávio Bolsonaro created a conflict she was unwilling to navigate. The visibility and demands of defending the president's son left no room for another case of this magnitude and notoriety.
When contacted about the approach, Pires denied that she had been sounded out at all. The denial itself became part of the story—a small but telling detail in a case already thick with legal maneuvering and strategic positioning. The search for new counsel suggested that Jairinho's defense team was either fragmenting or recalibrating, and that the family understood the stakes well enough to seek the most experienced hands available. The fact that even those hands were unavailable, or unwilling, hinted at the reputational weight the case carried. Henry Borel's death had become the kind of legal matter that lawyers weighed carefully before accepting, regardless of fee or connection.
Notable Quotes
Pires denied having been approached about the case— Luciana Pires, when contacted by reporters
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
Why would a lawyer representing the president's son turn down a case involving a sitting councilman?
Because the visibility cuts both ways. Taking on Jairinho meant being pulled into a death investigation that was already consuming media attention. Pires had her hands full with Flávio Bolsonaro—that alone is a full-time reputational management job.
But she had defended Jairinho's father before. Wasn't there loyalty there?
Loyalty and prudence aren't the same thing. She'd already been through one high-stakes federal case with the family. Adding another one, especially involving a child's death, would have meant dividing her focus and her credibility.
The denial is interesting. Why deny being approached if you simply declined?
It's a way of creating distance. Acknowledging the approach means acknowledging a connection to the case. Denying it entirely—that's cleaner, legally and professionally.
What does it tell us that the family was reaching out to Bolsonaro's circle at all?
That they understood they needed serious firepower. Pires wasn't a random name. She was a calculated choice, someone with experience in high-pressure political cases. The fact that they went there shows how seriously they were taking the need for new representation.
And when she said no?
It left them searching elsewhere, which itself signals that the case was becoming harder to defend, or at least harder to find the right defender for.