Toddler-killer suspect moved for safety

Karl Paroli. Photo / Supplied

Brazilian police holding the man accused of raping and murdering a New Zealand toddler are moving him to a top security jail for his own safety.

The regional head of tourist police in Porto Seguro, Teronite Bezerra, told a local newspaper that there was a risk that other prisoners in the local jail would mete out rough justice.

Luzzinei Araujo Santos, 24, has confessed to killing 3-year-old Cloe Paroli while she was on holiday at a Trancoso beach resort with her parents, New Zealander Karl Joseph Paroli, 31, of Napier, and his Brazilian partner Luciana de Vasconcelos Macedo Muratori, 33, last December.

Police said Cloe was found near mangroves, but showed signs of rape.

Mr Paroli said that the local Brazilian police who were initially responsible for investigating the crime delayed for weeks over arresting the suspect.

He singled out the head of the local military police near Trancoso for allegedly blocking attempts to have the crime investigated.

"The guy should not be a policeman. He should be selling coconuts on the beach," Mr Paroli said.

Santos was reported in local media as having knelt on the floor and confessed, saying he had been in the grip of a devil when he raped the girl.

The New Zealand embassy confirmed it had stepped in to liaise with police. A senior official at the embassy who declined to be named called the crime "horrific".

Mr Paroli said he had been pressured to keep quiet, but he and his partner decided to go public to explain their struggle for justice.

Mr Paroli said his policeman brother had flown over from New Zealand to help in the matter but left frustrated with what he saw.

- NZPA