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Football referee beheaded after stabbing player
A referee has been lynched and decapitated by a mob in northeastern Brazil after he fatally stabbed a player who refused to leave the pitch during an amateur football game.
The gruesome killings happened in the town of Pio XII in Maranhao state on June 30 but details of the case only emerged last week.
Local police say the referee, 20-year-old Otavio Jordao da Silva, got into a fist fight with 31-year-old player Josenir dos Santos Abreu, who had refused to comply with an order to leave the pitch.
During the fight, the referee stabbed the player, who subsequently died on the way to hospital.
In retaliation, three people stoned the referee to death before dismembering his body.
Local police say a 27-year-old man has confessed taking part in the assault although he denies delivering the fatal blows.
Two other suspects are still being sought.
A referee has been lynched and decapitated by a mob in northeastern Brazil after he fatally stabbed a player who refused to leave the pitch during an amateur football game.
The gruesome killings happened in the town of Pio XII in Maranhao state on June 30 but details of the case only emerged last week.
Local police say the referee, 20-year-old Otavio Jordao da Silva, got into a fist fight with 31-year-old player Josenir dos Santos Abreu, who had refused to comply with an order to leave the pitch.
During the fight, the referee stabbed the player, who subsequently died on the way to hospital.
In retaliation, three people stoned the referee to death before dismembering his body.
Local police say a 27-year-old man has confessed taking part in the assault although he denies delivering the fatal blows.
Two other suspects are still being sought.
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