UPDATE: Lawyers for convicted killer Andre Rebelo are urgently appealing his 25-year prison sentence for the murder of his mother, Colleen Rebelo. The appeal centers on a crucial statement made by Rebelo’s younger brother, Fabian Rebelo, during the trial, suggesting a shocking theory that could overturn the conviction.
In a dramatic twist, Fabien testified that when he discovered their mother’s body around 2:30 PM on May 25, 2020, the shower water temperature was “just a regular temperature that you would use to shower in.” This statement raises significant doubts about the prosecution’s case, which argued that Andre killed Colleen to collect on $1.15 million in life insurance policies he fraudulently set up in her name shortly before her death.
Rebelo’s defense team now claims this testimony proves he could not have committed the murder, asserting that if he had, there would have been no hot water left in the shower’s gas system. The state contends that Rebelo smothered his mother during a visit to her home in Bicton between 10:30 AM and 11:40 AM.
Authorities reported that the motive behind this “monstrous” crime was to finance a lavish lifestyle alongside his then-girlfriend, social media influencer Grace Piscopo. Prosecutors revealed that Rebelo, a failed cryptocurrency trader, was drowning in over $100,000 debt, leading to desperate actions to maintain appearances.
During the trial, Piscopo testified in defense of Rebelo but has never been implicated in Colleen’s death. This appeal could shift the narrative dramatically, with potential implications for the justice system’s handling of circumstantial evidence.
As this story develops, the legal community and the public are watching closely. Will the appeal succeed based on this new interpretation of testimony? Legal experts suggest that the outcome could redefine standards for evidence in murder trials.
Stay tuned for more updates on this unfolding case, as it may have far-reaching effects on how similar cases are prosecuted in the future.
