A brute has confessed to raping and strangling his nine-year-old cousin to death before going to church and helping unsuspecting relatives look for her.

Evil Ualefe Oliveira de Souza, 28, reportedly admitted to the killing after police grew suspicious of his alibi about a black vehicle following the victim in Macapa, Brazil, on 15th March.

He is reported to have told police that he strangled victim Sarah Lopes da Costa with his bare hands after raping her.

After the killing, said local media, he disposed of her body and went to church as if nothing had happened.

As the girl’s relatives got increasingly worried while the hours passed, they began searching the neighbourhood.

Sarah’s alleged killer is reported to have joined the search, which was fruitless.

Local media told how Oliveira tried to throw police off the scent by telling them he had seen a suspicious black vehicle near his cousin before she disappeared.

But when investigators studied CCTV footage of Sarah’s last moments, they realised his claims were false.

He was questioned on 16th March, when he reportedly confessed to the sick crime.

Oliveira also told police that the rape and murder were witnessed by his disabled neighbour – identified as Jonhnatan dos Santos Almeida, 36.

Both were immediately taken into custody.

Police found little Sarah’s lifeless body in a thicket near her home in only a shirt.

They believe she had followed her killer towards a secluded spot after being told they would fly kites there.

Sarah’s devastated family said the victim was a pupil at Wilson Malcher School and a member of the church choir.

Her body was given to experts at the Institute of Forensic Medicine.

Police chief Ronaldo Entringe said: “It’s the behaviour of a cold-blooded person, who has no feelings or remorse.”