New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- Lawyers for Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro said in a last-ditch effort to defend him in court Wednesday that there is no evidence he attempted to carry out a coup.

On the second day of the verdict and sentencing phase of Bolsonaro's coup trial, lawyer Celso Vilardi said that even if his client is accused of involvement in planning a coup - something which the defense doesn't concede - he never went forward with attempting the crime, and therefore shouldn't be punished. Vilardi said his position is supported by the fact that Bolsonaro ordered a transition of power after the 2022 presidential election.

The right-wing ex-leader is accused of attempting a coup to stay in power despite his defeat in the Octobe...