Former Brazil army colonel murdered

A former Brazilian army colonel who recently admitted killing and torturing political prisoners under military rule between 1964 and 1985 has been found dead.

Brazil police said Paulo Malhaes, 76, was murdered by three men who entered his home outside Rio de Janeiro on April 24.

A police spokesman told reporters that an “evaluation of the scene has already been undertaken and the wife of the victim and their valet have been questioned.”

“The latter will be able to help produce a photofit.”

Police also said the three men held the three inhabitants of the house in separate rooms before murdering the colonel and fleeing with a number of firearms that Malhaes had collected.

Last month, Malhaes gave a graphic testimony to Brazil’s Truth Commission about actions he committed during the military rule.

The Truth Commission was established by President Dilma Rousseff to investigate crimes committed during Brazil military rule.

Rousseff herself was among the thousands detained and tortured during the period of the military rule.

Some 500 people were killed or went missing in Brazil when the country was under the military rule.

During his testimony to the Truth Commission, Malhaes had said he had no regret in killing and torturing as many people that was necessary.

He had also testified to having mutilated some of his victims bodies, removing fingers and teeth to prevent their identification.