in this mouth. Later the sounds ceased. After lunch […] the same interrogator came […] he took me by the arm and led me to the room where Vladimir was being held, allowing me to take my hood off, but now he seemed particularly nervous. 70 123. On the afternoon of that day, Vladimir Herzog was murdered by the members of the DOI/CODI who were holding him prisoner. According to the expert opinion provided to the National Truth Commission, it was determined that he had been strangled. 71 Vladimir Herzog was 38 years of age. 124. That same day, the Second Army Command, in a press release, published the official version of the events. It affirmed that Vladimir Herzog had committed suicide by hanging himself with a strip of cloth. The press release stated that Mr. Herzog had been invited to appear, because Konder and Duque Estrada had named him as a member of the PCB. According to this version, during a face-to-face with these journalists, Vladimir Herzog had allegedly confessed that he was a member of the party and had even made a written statement. 72 Lastly, it was asserted that a forensic report had confirmed death by suicide. 73 125. The murder of Vladimir Herzog caused deep shock in Brazilian society. Strikes were held for several days promoted by both the journalists association and by university students and professors. 74 Thousands of people attended Vladimir Herzog’s funeral. 75 Also, a few days after his death, a high mass was held in his honor in São Paulo Cathedral attended by thousands of people. 76 E. Military police investigation (IPM No. 1173-75) 126. The major social reaction to Vladimir Herzog’s death resulted in the decision of the Commander General of the Second Army that a military police investigation should be opened to discover “the circumstances of the suicide of the journalist Vladimir Herzog.” Military Criminal Investigation No. 1173-75 was headed by Brigade General Fernando Guimarães Cerqueira Lima. 77 127. Mr. Motoho Chiota, the official who wrote the forensic report concluded that the position of the corpse corresponded to a “typical position of suicide by hanging.” Also, Arildo Viana and Harry Shibata, forensic experts, provided an autopsy report. 78 The fallacious nature of the 70 Proceeding No. 2008.61.81.013434-2, São Paulo Federal Justice System, Volume 2, folio 280, statements of Rodolfo Osvaldo Konder, of November 7, 1975 (evidence file, folios 3965 to 3967); Markun, Paulo. Meu querido Vlado. A história de Vladimir Herzog e do sonho de uma geração, pp. 134 and 135 (evidence file, folio 8794); Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folios 3300, 3301 and 11097). 71 Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 3300). 72 Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folios 1003 and 3300). Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 1004); Proceeding No. 2008.61.81.013434-2, São Paulo Federal Justice System, Volumen 3, folios 492 and 493, Official Note of the Second Army Command. 73 74 Brazil. Desaparecidos políticos, um capitulo não encerrado da historia Brazileira. Editorial Instituto Macuco. São Paulo: 2012 (evidence file, folio 7245); Expert opinion of John Dinges (evidence file, folio 14565). Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 635) Dantas, Audálio. As duas guerras de Vlado Herzog (evidence file, folios 3825 and 3883); Figueiredo, Lucas. Lugar nenhum: militares e civis na ocultação dos documentos da ditadura. 1st ed. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2015, p. 94 (evidence file, folio 8678); Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 635) 75 76 Direito à Memória e à Verdade: Special Commission on Political Deaths and Disappearances (evidence file, folio 406); Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 635 and 3300). 77 Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 3300); Dantas, Audálio. As duas guerras de Vlado Herzog (evidence file, folios 3897 and 3898). 78 Report of the National Truth Commission (evidence file, folio 3300). 27