A jilted man has killed his estranged wife by beating her with a sledgehammer and shooting her before taking his own life by jumping off a bridge, leaving their daughter an orphan.

Cops believe van driver Haroldo da Silva Amorim, 41, killed his estranged wife Bruna Araujo de Souza, 31, in revenge for her breaking up with him.

The incident took place in the neighbourhood of Rio do Ouro in the city of Sao Goncalo in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro on Thursday morning, 13th January.

The incident reportedly unfolded when the woman went to her ex’s house, where she used to live with him, ostensibly to pick up two televisions.

According to the Military Police (Brazil’s preventive police force), after committing the murder, the suspect stole a nearby car and fled.

He is then believed to have jumped off the Rio-Niteroi bridge, which crosses Guanabara Bay, linking the nearby cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi.

He was taken to hospital in Rio de Janeiro in a serious condition, but he succumbed to his injuries.

Araujo worked as a traffic conductor, and she had gone to live with her family at their home in a rural area near the city of Marica following her separation from her husband some four months ago.

She was reportedly afraid of her ex due due to his constant threats, and she had even deleted all her social media accounts.

The couple had been together for 14 years and reportedly have a daughter now aged 12.

Araujo reportedly left her husband because he was constantly assaulting her and even reportedly threatened her with a knife on one occasion.

The Civil Police (Brazil’s investigative police force) is investigating the case.