Pele's son - 29 year-old Edson Cholbi do Nascimento - and Marcilio Jose Marinho de Melo, 25, are accused of racing their cars when they struck and killed 50-year-old Pedro Simoes Neto in October 1992.

They face up to 20 years in jail if convicted.

In February, the Justice Tribunal of Sao Paulo state ruled that Nascimento, a reserve goalkeeper for Santos, and Melo should be charged with murder, and not - as expected - with involuntary manslaughter.

The defence is trying to prove that Mr Neto's death was as the result of an accident.