In a shocking and tragic incident, video footage has emerged showing the final moments of a woman who was allegedly murdered by her abusive husband in Brazil.
The harrowing footage captures Tatiane Spitzner desperately trying to escape from Luis Manvailer as he relentlessly pursues her through an underground garage.
The distressing video shows Spitzner seeking refuge in an elevator, only to be viciously attacked by Manvailer with punches and kicks.
It is alleged that he then strangled her to death before callously throwing her lifeless body from their fourth-floor balcony.
Prosecutors claim that the chilling footage also captures Manvailer bringing his wife’s body back up in the elevator and attempting to clean the bloodstains off the walls.
The 29-year-old lawyer’s bloody and broken corpse was later discovered inside their apartment in Guarapuava, south Brazil, on July 22.
While Manvailer, who is currently in custody awaiting trial, maintains that his wife jumped to her death after an argument, forensic experts have concluded that she died from strangulation.
The evidence suggests that Spitzner met a violent end as she desperately tried to defend herself.
Her neck bore the imprints of a pair of hands, and the hyoid bone at the front of her throat was fractured.
Additionally, she suffered multiple fractures consistent with a fall from a height of 40 feet onto concrete paving.
Forensic tests indicated high levels of alcohol in her blood, indicating vulnerability.
According to criminal prosecutor Dunia Rampazzo, the investigation reveals that Spitzner was killed inside the apartment through asphyxiation, and her body was subsequently thrown over the balcony.
Witnesses reported hearing a man shouting “my love, wake up” as he picked up the victim’s body from the pavement.
Manvailer was apprehended 185 miles away from the city after crashing on a motorway.
He claimed to have fled due to being disturbed by images of his wife jumping.
This tragic incident has sparked national outrage in Brazil, igniting a larger conversation about domestic abuse and the vulnerability of women in the country.
Statistics show that an average of 530 women reported suffering domestic violence per day in 2017.
The case has also prompted debates on femicide, which refers to the killing of a woman by a man because of her gender.
The criminal investigation surrounding Spitzner’s death has been complex and time-consuming.
Forensic experts conducted three simulations to examine the dynamics of her fall from the fourth-floor flat where she lived with Manvailer.
The simulations involved dropping a doll of the same weight and height as the victim from various angles to explore different possibilities.
In the lead-up to Spitzner’s death, texts sent months prior revealed her fear of her husband and her desire for a divorce.
However, the defense lawyer for Manvailer argues that the couple had a “happy” relationship.
The graphic nature of the video footage and the documented account of the incident serve as a distressing record of the domestic abuse Spitzner endured.
As the trial progresses, it is hoped that justice will be served for Tatiane Spitzner, shining a light on the urgent need for greater protection and support for victims of domestic violence in Brazil.
This tragic case serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle faced by countless women around the world.
