Corinthians fan confesses to setting off flare at soccer game that killed 14-year-old Bolivian
Players will face off under the sun in Brazil.
SÃO PAULO, Brazil — A 17-year-old Corinthians fan has confessed and turned himself in to police after setting off a flare that killed 14-year-old Bolivian Kevin Beltran Espada last week.
The Brazilian teenager, who was not named, turned himself in to São Paulo authorities on Monday, according to the Associated Press. He had confessed the day before to setting off the flare at a Libertadores Cup game in Bolivia while giving an interview to Brazilian TV channel Globo with his mother by his side.
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"We were celebrating the (Corinthians) goal. I took the flare from my bag, pulled on the cord, didn't quite know how to use it. It took off in the direction of the Bolivian fans," said the adolescent, who hid his face, noted Agence France-Presse.
Accompanied by his lawyer, the 17-year-old appeared before a juvenile court in Guarulhos, where he testified for more than two hours about what he described as an accident, reported AFP. Bolivian police also detained 12 other Corinthians fans.
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''When I found out what happened I just thought, 'My life is over. What am I going to do? I just killed a 14-year-old kid,''' said the Corinthians fan, according to the AP. ''I feel like I'm the worst person in the world. I don't know what I'll do with my life. I deeply regret what happened.''
Because he is a minor, the Brazilian cannot be extradited to Bolivia and will likely end up facing community service in Brazil.
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