The man suspected of killing his Brazilian ex-girlfriend in Sydney in April confessed to her killing while in jail, a detective has told a court in Rio de Janeiro.
Mario Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos Santoro, 40, appeared at a pre-trial hearing accused of murdering Cecilia Haddad, 38, and sat impassively, dressed in a white t-shirt and jeans.
Fabio Cardoso Junior, a homicide detective with Rio's Civil Police, told the court the suspect had confessed the murder to a police officer outside of a formal interview setting.
"In informal conversation, he confirmed the whole dynamics of the murder," he said.
Appearing before the court, Cardoso Junior alleged Santoro argued with Cecilia in her apartment and then strangled her to death.
Brazilian judge Daniel Werneck Cotta talks with lawyers before the start of a pre-trial hearing of Mario Marcelo Ferreira dos Santos Santoro Source: AAP
After the crime, he left then returned to the scene two hours later and put the victim's body in her car and drove off, the detective added.
The body was later found in Lane Cover River in Sydney.
Throughout the testimony, Santoro remained motionless and did not react. The detective said the defendant had told his colleague the confession was not formal testimony.
Once questioned at the police station with his lawyer, Santoro refused to answer questions.
Police are now seeking to have that officer's name added to the list of witnesses.
Cardoso also revealed that when he was arrested, Santoro acted surprised, because the defendant believed that he could not be charged by Brazilian police.
"The defendant wanted to know that he was arrested in Brazil because he had been informed he could not be extradited," he said.
Brazil's law makes extradition very difficult but does allow for the trial of natives within Brazil.
Brazilian police have charged Mario Marcelo Santoro with Cecilia Haddad's murder in Sydney. Source: AAP
This was a pre-trial hearing at which four of the seven prosecution witnesses gave evidence. Judge Daniel Werneck Cotta will decide if Santoro will face a full trial on qualified homicide charges.
If he does, the result will be decided by a jury of seven.
Santoro is accused of committing the crime in April before fleeing back to Brazil. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 30 years in one of Rio's notoriously overcrowded and violent jails.
The hearing was open to the press - a rarity in Brazil.
