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A former Brazilian army colonel who admitted that he tortured and killed political prisoners has been murdered in his home outside Rio de Janeiro.
Paulo Malhaes was suffocated to death on Thursday by three men who broke into his house, police said at the weekend.
Last month Mr Malhaes gave the country’s National Truth Commission a detailed account of his participation in the abduction, torture and killing of political prisoners during Brazil’s 1964-1985 military regime.
He also said he had helped in the “disappearance” of the bodies.
Mr Malhaes said that he did not regret his actions which he justified by saying: “They were guerillas and enemies of the state.”
He was the first member of the armed forces to openly acknowledge the killing of political prisoners.
The Truth Commission is investigating human rights abuses committed under Brazil’s military regimes.
It does not have powers to prosecute anyone because of a 1979 amnesty law.
