Brazil's youngest serial killer

Updated 12.20 Sat Mar 29 2008
Keywords: serial killer, Brazil

A teenage serial killer has confessed to murdering 12 people in Brazil.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught after he shot dead a 39-year-old man who he said had slapped him on the ear.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was caught after he shot dead a 39-year-old man who he said had slapped him on the ear

The youth, who has a criminal record for theft and drug trafficking, admitted 11 more killings in his home town Novo Hamburgo and police have confirmed his involvement in at least six of them.

He has been taken to a youth social rehabilitation center, where he is undergoing psychological and medical tests.

Under Brazilian law, he can only be imprisoned for three years at the most and he will have a clean criminal record once he turns 18 years old.

Police Chief Ezinaldo Plentz said: "He's extremely cold and he dealt with death in an extremely relaxed way."

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