He repeated that he had a "clear conscience" and always defended the operation,[3] saying the order to invade the cellblock was meant to save lives as he feared that a fire set by inmates could spread.
[4] Guimarães was originally charged with 111 counts of murder in June 2001, but the number was later reduced to 102 as there was no evidence police had killed the nine prisoners found stabbed to death.
[7][8] Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), one of Brazil's most notorious gangs, is said to have been formed as a response to the event.
Guimarães was against the disarming of the population and in favor of stricter rules for detainees, such as the ending of conjugal visits and furloughs.
[2] The governor of São Paulo, Cláudio Lembo (PFL), ruled out the possible involvement of organized crime in the murder.