Woman 'who wheeled dead man into bank' finally speaks out on the shocking incident
Topics: Crime, Health, Money, World News
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: TV Globo/ @WION/YouTube
Topics: Crime, Health, Money, World News
A woman who was recorded wheeling an elderly 'dead' man into a bank has finally spoken out about the incident.
In what is one of the strangest and most alarming videos that's ever graced the internet - and that's saying something - Érika de Souza Vieira Nunes was caught on camera wheeling a 68-year-old man into a bank to get him to co-sign a loan for around $3,000.
The footage - taken 16 April - was aired by Brazilian broadcaster TV Globo and showed Nunes talking to a man who she called 'uncle', trying to get him to sign a loan contract.
Advert
When questioned why he wasn't moving by bank staff members, she allegedly just said he's 'like that'.
Concerned, bank staff called police and Nunes was arrested, civil police investigators in Rio de Janeiro alleging Braga was already dead prior to his arrival at the bank.
An autopsy report later revealed the man - identified as Paulo Roberto Braga - had passed away from 'bronchoaspiration and heart failure' several hours before being wheeled to the bank.
However, Nunes' attorney denied this, arguing Braga had been alive at the time he entered the bank.
Now, Nunes has spoken out about the incident herself.
Nunes was released last week pending ongoing investigation after spending 16 days on remand in prison.
Last night (5 May), she gave her first interview since the ordeal, telling Brazilian TV programme Fantastico: "The days away from my family have been horrible, very difficult."
She stressed she 'didn't realise' her uncle was dead while with him in the bank, claiming she only realised he had passed away when an emergency service worker confirmed the fact after being called to assist.
Nunes also said she is 'undergoing treatment' which sees her take 'a sleeping pill called Zolpidem' and she 'took more than' she 'should have' which she says could've resulted in her not noticing there was anything wrong.
She added she 'didn't need the money' but it was her uncle who 'wanted' the loan.
"We always lived without my uncle having any income. My family always helped him. He only did odd jobs here and there but didn’t have any fixed income," she said.
Nunes resolved: "It’s absurd what people are saying. I’m not that person people are talking about, I’m not that monster."
Nunes' comments come after her son Lucas Nunes spoken out to claim she's been 'experiencing disorders'.
"She has been going through difficult times," he said. "She has psychological and psychiatric support."
Nunes' lawyer Ana de Souza added: "The case has barely started and there is already a punishment prior to a sentencing decision.
"That is, she is already being punished before she is even convicted, if she is going to be convicted at all."
A judge released Nunes on bail so she could take care of her daughter who has special needs, alongside work on her 'weakened' mental health and ultimately because the judge didn't believe she'd post any risk to public order.
Nunes faces charges of attempted theft by fraud and the abuse of a corpse.