Man who killed family of 3 in Omaha has appeal rejected
The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected a post-conviction appeal of a man who killed two Brazilian missionaries and their 7-year-old son over a money dispute in Omaha 10 years ago.
By News Channel NebraskaOMAHA - The Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected a post-conviction appeal of a man who killed two Brazilian missionaries and their 7-year-old son over a money dispute in Omaha 10 years ago.
The high court on Friday upheld a lower court’s rejection without an evidentiary hearing of the post-conviction appeal of Jose Oliveira-Coutinho.
He had argued some 50 claims in an effort to show his attorney was ineffective.
Oliveira-Coutinho was one of three Brazilian men charged with killing Vanderlei Szczepanik, his wife, Jacqueline, and their son, Christopher.
Prosecutors say he and two others beat to death Szczepanik, who had hired the men for a renovation project, and hanged his wife and son before throwing their bodies in the Missouri River.
Oliveira-Coutinho was convicted of three first-degree murder counts and sentenced to three life terms in prison.
Valdeir Goncalves-Santos was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role. The third man was deported to Brazil before he could be charged.