Bad vibe at the barbecue

Justice Marco Aurélio

Justice Marco Aurélio Mendes de Farias Mello of the Supreme Federal Court of Brazil has handed down an interesting decision on a petition for habeas corpus. Two soldiers got in a fight at a barbecue at a private residence; the accused stabbed the other soldier. The military courts found there was court-martial jurisdiction, but Justice Aurelio, sitting alone, disagreed (HC 118708, June 3, 2014) and suspended execution of the sentence pending final action by the court on the habeas petition.