da 888casino： The former Flamengo shot-stopper was sentenced to 22 years after being found guilty for killing his girlfriend

da lvbet： Eliza Samudio was born in 1985 into a life of poverty and hardship, in an abusive household in which her father would regularly beat her mother. As a result of the abuse, her mother fled, and ultimately left her husband to raise Eliza in Foz do Iguacu, a small municipality in Brazil.

At the age of 10, however, Eliza moved to be with her mum, who had remarried and was running a pepper production farm. As co-parenting continued, she dreamed of becoming a model in the big city, of heading to Sao Paulo to make it in the fashion industry.

She would ultimately be unsuccessful, as her life was tragically, and heinously, cut short by Brazilian goalkeeper Bruno Fernandes de Souza, her boyfriend. Eliza died in 2010, at the age of 25, and Bruno would be sent to prison for her murder, along with multiple accomplices. This is their story…

Getty ImagesBruno's background

Bruno had grown into one of Brazil’s best goalkeepers throughout a short career. Having played for Atletico Mineiro and Corinthians, a move to Flamengo heralded a bright future for a young 'keeper making his way in the South American country. Flamengo paid €3 million to sign him, and while he was initially the backup to Diego – their first-choice shot-stopper – he was given a chance after injury struck his team-mate down.

The Brazilian club had actually beaten Barcelona to his signature, and Bruno stole headlines after showing that he was as capable with his feet as he was his hands. He scored three free-kicks for the club, as well as a penalty, and he was even made the club’s captain.

In 2010, though, an investigation was launched into the disappearance and alleged murder of Eliza; Flamengo suspended Bruno, and withdrew their legal support for the player.

Just months prior, there had been rumours that he would be heading to the 2010 World Cup with Brazil, but he was not selected due to his on-field showboating, and penchant for taking set-pieces. Instead, he would end the year in prison.

AdvertisementBruno and Eliza meet

Eliza’s dreams of becoming a model did not work out in Sao Paulo, and so she had to find separate ways to earn. While she did feature in a variety of fashion photoshoots, the bills were still not paid, and so she began starring in pornographic films.

In 2009, according to Bruno, he met Eliza at a barbecue and the pair had sex. Eliza subsequently left her fashion job to be with the soccer star, but he was married. While he claimed he would leave his wife, the relationship with Eliza came to a sudden end in the same year.

She announced she was pregnant, and would not be having an abortion, despite being pressured to by the stopper. Publicly, Fernandes claimed he was breaking off the relationship; that is not what happened.

History of violence

The pair’s relationship was clearly volatile, and in October of 2009, a police report was filed by Eliza, claiming that Bruno and two of his friends, ‘Russo’ and ‘Macarrao’, kept her hostage. While she was imprisoned, she alleged that she was forced to take “abortive substances” at gunpoint and was beaten by the three men. Once DNA tests were completed, Eliza’s allegation was confirmed – she did have abortive substances in her urine, but the test results were only published after she had gone missing.

Subsequently, a restraining order was requested by Eliza to be placed on Bruno, prohibiting him from being within 300 metres of her, but it was denied. He also denied all allegations, claiming she was simply a fantasist.

He said: “It's not the first time she's made up this bunch of lies to try to harm me.”

Getty ImagesMissed opportunity

Eliza petitioned Brazilian courts to be further protected from the goalkeeper, such was her trauma from the kidnapping. That was denied by a judge, who argued “the protection of the family” was vital; Eliza was five months pregnant at the time.

She gave birth in 2010 although at the time she was living with a friend. Bruno did not acknowledge that he was the father, although Eliza requested child support. She also claimed that she had been assaulted, and he was indicted once again.

Thus, there were multiple chances for the courts and the law to protect Eliza, but they failed to do so.