A BRAZILIAN gang who tortured and murdered a couple ATE their body parts after raiding their home, police have claimed.

Cristina Amaral, 44, was found decayed and buried in a shallow grave alongside her husband Juvenal, 57, in the back garden of their Camaçari city home on January 9.

7 This is where a couple's decayed bodies were found buried on January 9 in Brazil Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

7 Juvenal Amaral, 57, was found dead next to his wife after a gang of thugs raided their home in Camaçari for money Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

7 Cristina Amaral was said to have been raped in front of her husband before they were both murdered and eaten by their killers Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

Forensic experts revealed Juvenal was brutally beaten, stabbed and forced to watch as his wife was raped in front of him.

Thugs held the couple hostage for at least 24 hours, before targeting Cristina because they could not find cash in their home.

Detective Maria Tereza Santos, head of homicide division said she believes the suspects "practised canibalism".

She added: "Internal organs, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes had been ripped out of the female’s body and other body parts are missing. There is no indication of where these organs are.

7 Thugs buried the couple in this shallow pit within the backyard of their home Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

7 These five suspects have been arrested including Daniel Neves, left and Carlos Neres, right Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

"We found that soft tissue had been deliberately cut and sliced from the bones of the victims. We are also investigating whether consumption took place while the victims were still alive."

The couple were brutally murdered soon after a grandmother of one of the suspects, who worked as a cleaner for the victims, told her grandson the couple had won a recent compensation claim of 70,000 reais (£15,000).

7 Thugs searched the victims house in a bid to find 70,000 reais (£15,000) Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

7 A pistol and a 12 gauge shotgun were allegedly found in the suspects possession upon arrest Credit: Bahia Police/Focus On News

Suspects Daniel Santos Neves, 29 and Carlos Alberto Neres, 25, were arrested alongside three teenagers aged 13, 14 and 16 after an anonymous tip off.

When police swooped on the gang, they were allegedly found with a 12-gauge shotgun, a pistol and a car believed to be owned by the victims.

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They have been charged with robbery, rape, torture, murder, illegal possession of weapons and suspected cannibalism in a crime which has sent shock waves through the industrial city.

Investigators said the two adults face charges including robbery, torture, murder, concealment of a corpse, illegal possession of weapons and corruption of minors.

The teens have been charged with rape and robbery.

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