BELEM, Brazil — A rancher acquitted of ordering the killing of American nun Dorothy Stang professed admiration for her and said a key prosecution witness changed his testimony after finding God.
Vitalmiro Moura was acquitted Tuesday in retrial after being convicted in 2007 of ordering the 2005 killing of the rain-forest defender.
Moura’s acquittal has sparked an outcry over the government’s failure to get to the bottom of Stang’s and other killings linked to land disputes in the Amazon.
In an interview Thursday, Moura said he had no motive in the killing and supports the poor settlers Stang, 73, defended because he had grown up among them.
“I never had the pleasure of meeting her, but I would have liked to so I could have shaken her hand,” the 37-year-old rancher said.
State prosecutor Edson Souza said he was appealing Moura’s acquittal, and even Moura’s lawyer said public pressure likely would cause his client to be convicted at retrial.
Stang’s brother David questioned Moura’s sincerity Thursday, noting that he previously acknowledged playing a role in Dorothy Stang’s killing.
“This is disinformation they’re trying to spread,” said Stang, 70, who lives near Colorado Springs.
According to Moura, the chief prosecution witness changed his testimony because he had recently found God and wanted to right his wrongs. The man only testified against him because he was pressured by police and prosecutors, Moura added.
