Former Amazonas legislator and TV host Wallace Souza, centre, in August 2009, has died. He had faced trial on charges of drug trafficking and ordering the murder of his rivals. (Antonio Menezes/A Critica/Associated Press)A former Brazilian crime show host and state legislator accused of orchestrating murders to boost his TV ratings has died in hospital.
Wallace Souza died of a heart attack at Sao Paulo's Hospital Bandeirantes on Tuesday, according to hospital spokeswoman Raquel Rojas.
Souza had suffered from Budd Chiari syndrome, a rare illness causing blockages to form in the blood vessels of the liver, and had been treated for the disease since March, Rojas said.
The 51-year-old former police officer and TV crime show host had been awaiting trial on charges of drug trafficking and homicide.
Souza was known for his popular show Canal Livre, filmed in the jungle city of Manaus. It featured exclusive footage from arrests, drug busts and grisly murder scenes. It began in the 1980s and ran until late 2008.
He parlayed his TV fame into three terms as state legislator for the Amazonas region, all the while remaining a media personality.
Police intensified their investigation into Souza in 2008. Authorities allege that he ordered the deaths of at least five people — including drug-trafficking rivals — to improve his own business and to boost ratings for his TV show.
In the fall of 2009, he was ousted from his government post and lost the immunity from prosecution granted to Brazilian lawmakers. After a few days on the run, he turned himself in to police, though he claimed that political opponents were trying to ruin his reputation.
Souza repeatedly denied all charges against him and his death prevents his name from being cleared, his lawyer, Denise Macedo, told reporters.
"He didn't have the necessary force to prove his innocence," she said.
Souza's son, Rafael, was jailed last August for homicide, drug trafficking and illegal gun possession.
With files from The Associated PressShare Tools
FILM REVIEW: Men in Black 3 by Eli Glasner May. 25, 2012 11:40 AM Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are back in the action sequel Men in Black 3, a third instalment of a series now 15 years old. Though new addition Josh Brolin manages some amazing mimicry as a younger version of Jones, the story doesn't measure up to the weird and wonderful charms of the original, says film reviewer Eli Glasner.
Top News Headlines
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- Syrian children massacred by the dozens, UN says
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed in an artillery attack. more »
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico, organization says
- Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people. more »
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Bad weather has hampered the recovery team that is attempting to bring down the body of a Toronto woman who died trying to climb Mt. Everest. more »
Latest Arts & Entertainment News Headlines
- Seniors float above Montreal's Quartier Latin
- In Montreal this weekend, an unusual performance series will have seniors indulging in their favourite hobbies, but perched on chairs suspended five metres above the ground. more »
- Modern and traditional art scores at Joyner auction
- Both traditional and modern works fared well at Joyner Waddington's spring art auction in Toronto, with buyers snapping up lots by Group of Seven members as well as more contemporary artists. more »
- Prophetic Cosmopolis premieres at Cannes
- David Cronenberg says he didn't anticipate the Occupy Wall Street movement as he prepared to shoot Cosmopolis, his new film which made its world premiere Friday at the Cannes Film Festival in southern France. more »
- Jennifer Egan's newest story debuts on Twitter
- The latest short story from Pulitzer-winning writer Jennifer Egan is emerging 140 characters at a time via Twitter. more »
Q Blog
Toni Morrison on her two selves May. 25, 2012 5:57 PM Jian speaks with the celebrated African American author and academic about her two conflicting selves, and her new novel, Home.
CBC Books
Talking about war May. 25, 2012 4:57 PM The public conversation around war has always been complex and thorny. How does Canada's military approach differ from that of other countries? Are we a society of peacekeepers or warriors? These are some of the questions that Noah Richler explores in his new book What We Talk About When We Talk About War.
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- Tornado touchdown confirmed near Montreal
- Aylmer triple stabbing leads to first-degree murder charges
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- B.C. premier unhappy with disgraced Mountie's transfer
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Everest victim's husband says family not seeking government help
- The risks and responsibilities of taking on Mt. Everest
