Two former police officers have been arrested for this crime the assassination of Marielle Francoa prominent left-wing politician was killed in a shooting in 2018.
Anderson Gomes, Franco’s driver, was also killed in the attack but his press officer Fernanda Chaves, who was in the car, survived.
Ronnie Lessa admitted to being the shooter and was sentenced to 78 years and nine months, while Élcio de Queiroz received 59 years and eight months for driving the wheel.
Franco, a gay Black woman, was a beacon of light in Brazil’s Socialist Party, whose death at the age of 38 sparked protests across the country.
Speaking to the court from prison via video-link, Lessa said he was “blindsided” and “crazed” by the prospect of a million dollar reward for the murder.
In March 2024, Brazil’s Minister of Justice, Ricardo Lewandowski, said the killing was “politically related”.
He said Franco wants to turn the area into houses for the poor, while others want to use it for retail.
Both defendants signed plea agreements, which led to the arrest of politician Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos in March on suspicion of assault.
Lessa said the brothers told him that Rivaldo Barbosa, the police chief at the time, had signed off on the murder. Barbosa was arrested that month.
After the sentence, Franco’s father Antônio da Silva Neto said his family will continue to fight for justice.
“It doesn’t end here because there were intellectuals [of the crime]. The question we are asking now is: when will the intellectuals be judged?”
Life sentences do not exist under Brazilian law and each defendant is expected to serve 30 years.
The two were ordered to jointly pay 706,000 reais (120,000 USD) in damages to Franco’s mother, his partner and daughter, and to Gomes’ wife.
They were also ordered to pay Gomes’ son Arthur a pension until he turns 24.
Chaves, who survived the incident, told the court how the night had “completely changed” his life.
Shortly after the attack, Chaves and his family fled the country and was unable to attend Franco’s funeral or memorial service. He has returned to Brazil.
Speaking to the court via video-link, he said those guilty of killing Franco will spend the rest of their lives hearing Franco’s name and seeing him “faced with walls around the world”.
“They took Marielle from us, but they couldn’t take away what Marielle said”, he added.
In court, families and friends clapped and chanted “Marielle is here! Anderson is here!” after the verdict was announced, a phrase that became popular in protests across the country after their deaths in 2018.
Anielle Franco, the minister of racial equality, said her sister’s legacy “will be proof that women, black people from the favelas, when they get to positions of power, they deserve to live”.
“Although there is blood running through our veins, we are still alive, we will continue to protect the legacy and memory of Marielle and Anderson”, he added.
Reverend Henrique Vieira, state congressman, said: “I didn’t want her to be a flag, a slogan. She is missed and we really miss Mari’s joy, strength, courage, intelligence.”
Investigations are still ongoing against Barbosa and the Brazão brothers who are suspected of being involved in planning and organizing the attack.
They deny that they are involved in the killings or with the soldiers.
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