A LAWYER has been arrested on suspicion of murder after allegedly poisoning her ex-boyfriend’s dad and grandmother at a pastry shop.
Amanda Partata, 31, has been accused of poisoning Leonardo Pereira, 58, and his mum, Luzia Alves, 86, at a family breakfast.
Amanda Partata/CENAmanda Partata, 31, has been accused of poisoning Leonardo Pereira, 58, and his mum, Luzia Alves, 86, at a family breakfast[/caption]
CENAmanda Partata outside a police station after her arrest[/caption]
Leonardo Pereira (left) and his mother, Luzia Alves (right) died after eating food that had been poisoned
After her arrest, Partata told reporters outside a police station: “I’m innocent, I didn’t do this, guys. I didn’t do anything.”
Pereira and Alves fell ill several hours after eating cake from the shop in Goiania, Brazil on Sunday.
They were rushed to Santa Barbara Hospital – where they died the same day.
Partata is facing double homicide charges, the Goiania Civil Police Department said.
“The case is very complex, it involves a degree of psychopathy,” police chief Carlos Alfama said, according to Brazilian news outlet G1.
“What we say is that, in fact, it is a double homicide by poisoning.”
Alfama alleged that Partata bought grape juice, cake, cheese bread and biscuits for the family.
And Pereira and Alves fell ill about three hours after eating the food.
The victims’ family members initially accused the pastry shop owners for the deaths.
But food inspectors who visited the pastry shop to investigate said “no irregularities were found in the products inspected”.
Investigators later discovered Partata was allegedly involved.
Alfama said Partata – who is understood to be pregnant – was upset after her relationship with Pereira’s son ended after three months.
The woman allegedly threatened her ex by sending messages from fake social media profiles and phone numbers.
He reportedly blocked more than 10 numbers from where Partata had called him.
Partata has claimed she was not behind the threats.
Pereira’s daughter, Maria Paula Alves, said: “Dad was a 58-year-old man who didn’t have a single grey hair on his head and woke up on December 17 completely fine.
“The whys, the surprise, the anguish, the misunderstanding and the doubt.”