A court in Brazil has ordered the release of a man jailed for stabbing his wife to death during a row over rival football teams after prosecutors failed to meet the deadline to press charges.

The court in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo ordered the release of businessman Leonardo Souza Ceschini, 34, who stands accused of killing his wife, 34-year-old sales rep Erica Fernandes Alves Ceschini, on 25th February.

Corinthians supporter Leonardo is accused of killing his Palmeiras-supporting wife during an alleged fight on 31st January, a day after Palmeiras beat Santos in the Copa Libertadores final.

The rivalry between Sao Paulo clubs Corinthians and Palmeiras is widely considered Brazil’s biggest.

Although Leonardo confessed to the killing, judge Giovanna Christina Colares ordered his release, given that the permitted time period for his preventive detention had expired.

Chief prosecutor Fernando Bolque has denied the case is not being pursued, and said that the reason it is taking so long to press charges is because new information has emerged that must be investigated.

The prosecutor has asked for permission to access the suspect’s and victim’s telephone records amid suspicions the crime may have actually been premeditated.

The police are also investigating whether the suspect’s father, Alexandre Estevam Ceschini, and two accomplices stole the victim’s car, two televisions, a microwave, electronics and jewellery from the apartment while the funeral was taking place.

The police also believe that the victim’s mobile phone and documents belonging to the couple’s two-year-old twin sons were taken from the apartment by a woman claiming to be the suspect’s family’s lawyer.

The couple’s children are currently being looked after by their maternal grandparents.

At the time of the crime, the police were called by neighbours who arrived at the couple’s apartment to find Erica lying on the kitchen floor. Help was provided, but she died at the scene.

Leonardo was arrested and subsequently gave two contradictory versions of events.

He first said that Erica had stabbed him and then committed suicide. He then said that she hurt him with the knife, which he then grabbed off her and used to stab her several times.

He said the motive was a quarrel over their rival football teams.

He was treated in hospital for his injuries, which Erica’s family believes were self-inflicted to feign a struggle.

Erica’s family also dismisses the football motive. The victim’s sister, Aline, told local media: “Leonardo took advantage of my sister financially because she earned much more than he did.”

She added: “My sister even commented to my mother that she was tired and wanted to separate. We just want him to pay for what he did.”

The investigation continues.

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