Brazilians tried to murder Birmingham transvestite, court told

Aug 18 2009 By Ross McCarthy

While waiting for the driver to arrive Passos also sent a series of texts to her co-defendant telling him “that something awful was to happen”, it was alleged.

When the driver turned up Passos then left with him to buy three pounds of petrol and a container while Modesto’s role was to make sure that the victim, a homosexual man who sometimes dressed as a woman, stayed in the flat, said Mr Grieves-Smith.

He said when Passos returned she transferred the petrol into a mop bucket which she then threw over Mr Da Silva in the lounge.

She then threw a light onto the floor setting the carpet alight, the flames then spreading to the victim and up his body, said Mr Grieves-Smith.

“Both defendants left the block and made their way to London leaving their former friend on fire. Mr Da Silva, now alight, went into the bathroom and turned on the shower and tried to extinguish the flames but without success,” he said.

Mr Grieves-Smith said the victim desperately tried to get help from other residents before emergency services arrived.

He said Mr Da Silva, whose hands had melted, suffered about 70 per cent burns to his body.

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