Man showed body of dead ex-girlfriend to best friends on FaceTime call, trial hears

Olivia Kelleher

A man accused of murder called his two best friends back home in Brazil on FaceTime and told them he had killed his ex-girlfriend before then turning his phone camera around to show them her body on a bed, a trial has heard.

Miller Pacheco (32) of Formiga in Minas Gerais, Brazil, is on trial at a sitting of the Central Criminal Court in Cork, charged with the murder of his girlfriend of five years, Bruna Fonseca. Bruna (28) was found dead in a bed in a flat in Liberty Street in Cork city centre on New Year’s Day 2023.

Bruna moved to Ireland with her niece in September of 2022 in search of a “better life.” Miller relocated to Ireland in November 2022 to be reunited with Bruna. However, the couple, who grew up in the same town, broke up within a few days of his arrival in Cork.

Pedro Enrique Eduardo gave evidence by video link on Thursday. He said that, on New Year’s Eve 2022, his friend Miller sent him videos of Bruna kissing a man.

Miller also texted Pedro saying: “Forgive me for everything. You are the best of all of us. You and Felipe.” (Their other friend).

Mr Eduardo said he and his friend Felipe were at a New Year’s party in their native Brazil when he received the message.

The men were concerned about Miller and called him. Mr Eduardo said that a few minutes into the FaceTime call Miller told them that he had “killed Bruna.”

Mr Eduardo said that it was hard to comprehend what his friend was saying.

“We couldn’t believe it so he (Miller) went and showed us Bruna lying on her belly. She was covered with a blanket. Felipe turned his face not to look.

"What I can remember is that she (Bruna) was lying on the bed. Her hair was covering her face and there was a blanket coming up to her shoulder.”

Mr Eduardo contacted a first cousin of the deceased who was living in Cork. She in turn called the gardaí.

Mr Eduardo said that he had never known his friend Miller to be violent. He also told the court that Miller had “sold everything” and “left everything behind in his life” to go to Ireland.

Mr Eduardo said that “if he was not mistaken (the breakup with Bruna occurred) less than a week” after Miller moved to Ireland.

He said that his friend had been depressed in 2022 and that during the New Year’s Eve FaceTime call he was concerned he might end his life.

Felipe Jose Costa Peroni said in his video that at 2:15am (Brazilian time) on New Year’s Day 2023 he received a message from Miller which read : “I’m sorry — there is no way to come back to Brazil.”

Mr Costa Peroni said the Miller had been the best man at his wedding and the pair had known each other since they were children. . He said that he and Pedro decided to FaceTime Miller.

“I remember telling him he (Miller) that should come back to Brazil and he said he had ‘killed Bruna.” We got in to shock. We couldn’t believe the news.”

Mr Costa Peroni said that his wife Ludmilia walked in to the room. He decided to leave the phone call to contact Bruna’s cousin.

“I had (Ludmillia) stay on the phone (with Miller). We were afraid he would commit suicide. He (Miller) had his hands on his forehead. He was shaking his head and crying.”

He said that Miller was “very down” in 2022 — possibly because he and Bruna had broken up for a period in Brazil and also arising out of her booking a plane ticket to Ireland.

Ms Ludmillia Milo Faria also gave evidence by video link. She said she walked in to the room where her husband and friend were FaceTiming Miller. She said that Miller then turned his camera to show them a body on a bed.

“I remember seeing a body on a bed. It was covered. It appeared her hair was falling on the bed. The body was covered by a blanket.”

Ms Milo Faria said that she stayed on the phone with Miller so that “he wouldn’t make another mistake.” (End his life).

Meanwhile, Katie Silva told the court that she first met Miller Pacheco at an English class in Cork in December 2022. He introduced her to the late Bruna Fonseca.

She said that she spoke with Miller on Christmas Day 2022 when he was “angry, upset and frustrated” about the break up with Bruna.

“He called her bad names — I don’t want to say the names. He said that Bruna does not care about his feelings.”

Ms Silva said that Miller had seen text messages between Bruna and an An Argentinian man.

“He said he wants to kill him. I told him (Miller) to move on. He asked if she (Bruna) had been with anyone else. I said, ‘She is single, leave her alone.’ I did not meet him (the man from Argentina) but Bruna talked to me about him.

The jurors also heard evidence from Alamo Morais who said that he danced with and kissed Bruna at the New Year’s Eve party in the Oyster Tavern in Cork city.

He said at one point during the evening he noticed a man staring at him.

“I did not understand. In Brazil, people don’t stare at you for no reason. Usually people at a party don’t stare at you for no reason. I was kissing her, hugging her and talking about the New Year. At that point I was happy and enjoying myself.”

The jury also heard evidence from Mercy University Hospital Radiographer Barbara O’Sullivan. At the time of her death Bruna was employed at the hospital.

Ms O’Sullivan said that she was approached by a man at the hospital on Christmas Day 2022. He showed her a picture of a woman and asked if he knew Bruna Fonseca. She said that the man was “hanging around” the hospital and seemed “erratic and distressed.”

The trial continues tomorrow on Friday in front of a jury of seven women and five men. It is being presided over by Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford.

The late Bruna Fonseca was a college graduate who had trained as a librarian. Her family members are in attendance at the trial. The accused man worked as an engineer before he moved to Ireland.