Police: British journalist and guide were shot dead in Amazon

BRITISH journalist Dom Phillips and his Brazilian guide, whose disappearance in the Amazon some two weeks ago sparked an international outcry, were shot dead, Brazilian police confirmed over the weekend.

A day after investigators identified remains found buried in a remote part of the Amazon as those of Mr Phillips, officials said a second set of remains belonged to his guide, indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.

Both died from gunshots using hunting ammunition. Mr Phillips, 57, was struck by a single shot to the chest. Pereira, 41, suffered three shots, one to the head. An outspoken defender of indigenous rights, Pereira received

‘We are going to try to understand whether there was a previous agreement among the suspects’

multiple death threats. The two went missing on June 5 in an isolated part of the rainforest rife with illegal mining, fishing, logging and drug trafficking.

Ten days later, a suspect took police to a place near Atalaia do Norte in western Amazonas state, where he said he had buried bodies. Soon after, the suspect’s brother was also detained.

On Saturday police said an additional suspect, identified as Jefferson da Silva Lima, also known as “Pelado da Dinha,” had turned himself in at the police station in Atalaia do Norte.

Commissioner Alex Perez Timoteo told news site G1 that evidence and testimony indicated that the suspect “was at the scene of the crime and actively participated in the double homicide”.

Mr Timoteo also told reporters it is “fairly likely” there could be further arrests. “We are going to try to understand whether there was a previous agreement among the suspects, if they had been planning this situation,” the commissioner said.