Businessman 'ordered killing of British journalist Dom Phillips'

Brazilian police say they plan to indict a Colombian fish trader for his involvement in the murders

Brazilian indigenous people protest for the demarcation of indigenous land and over the murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous affairs specialist Bruno Pereira, in Sao Paulo, Brazil. AFPShow less

A Colombian fish trader was the organiser of last year’s murder of British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, Brazilian police said on Monday.

Federal police officials said Ruben Dario da Silva Villar provided the ammunition to kill the pair, made phone calls to the confessed killer before and after the crime, and paid for his lawyer.

Fisherman Amarildo da Costa de Oliveira, nicknamed Pelado, confessed that he shot Mr Phillips and Mr Pereira and has been under arrest since soon after the killings in early June.

He and three other relatives are accused of taking part in the crime.

They live in an impoverished river community inside a federal agrarian reform settlement between the city of Atalaia do Norte and Javari Valley Indigenous Territory.

Mr Villar has denied any wrongdoing in the case.

Before Monday’s announcement, he was already being held on charges of using false Brazilian and Peruvian documents and leading an illegal fishing scheme.

Dom Phillips: missing UK journalist's backpack found in Brazilian Amazon - in pictures

Brazilian federal police officers arrive at a pier with items found during a search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. The men have been missing for more than a week. AP

A firefighter holds a phone after a backpack was found during a search for indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in remote Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. AP

Brazilian soldiers aboard a skiff during the search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who went missing in a remote part of the Amazon rainforest, near the border with Peru, at Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. Reuters

Brazilian Federal Police officers arrive to join a search operation for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira in Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. AP

A child of the Mayuruna people watches from a pier at the Atalaia do Norte river shore in Amazonas state, Brazil, as Federal Police and military personnel search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous affairs expert Bruno Pereira in Javari Valley. AP

Brazilian police officers and rescue team members during the search operation for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who went missing in a remote and lawless part of the Amazon rainforest at Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, Brazil. Reuters

Campaigners, friends and supporters of British journalist Dom Phillips and expert on indigenous affairs Bruno Pereira take part in a protest on Copacabana beach, Rio de Janeiro, to draw attention to their disappearance in the Amazon rainforest. AP

Federal Police forensics officers examine a boat seized by the task force sent to rescue of missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips at the port of the city of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas, Brazil. On Friday, authorities say they found ‘apparently human’ material. AFP

Brazilian Federal police officers examine a fishing boat during the search for British journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, who both went missing in the Amazon rainforest more than a week ago. Reuters

The Brazilian Army sent helicopters to help in the search for missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips in the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state. The two planned a research trip to Javari Valley, a far-flung jungle where illegal fishing, logging, mining and drug trafficking are common. AFP

A Brazilian Army helicopter circles the municipality of Atalaia do Norte, Amazonas state, in the direction of the Itaquai River, in the search for missing indigenous expert Bruno Pereira and British journalist Dom Phillips. AFP

According to the investigation, he paid local fishermen to fish inside the Javari Valley Indigenous Territory.

Univaja, the local Indigenous association that employed Mr Pereira, said it believed there were other significant planners behind the killings who have not been arrested.

Mr Pereira and Mr Phillips were travelling in the remote area of the Amazon when they disappeared, and their bodies were recovered after the confessions.

Mr Phillips was conducting research for a book on how to save the world’s largest rainforest.