The confessed killers of councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes — former military police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz — were sentenced on Thursday (October 31) by a jury in Rio de Janeiro. Ronnie Lessa received a prison sentence of 78 years, nine months, and 30 days. Élcio de Queiroz received 59 years, eight months, and 10 days.
The jury found them guilty of three crimes: double qualified homicide for a trivial motive, ambush, and hindering the victim’s defense; attempted homicide against Fernanda Chaves (Franco’s advisor); and receiving the vehicle used in the crime. Franco and her driver were murdered on March 14, 2018.
The two defendants were also ordered to pay alimony to Gomes’ son, Arthur, until he turns 24 and, jointly, to pay R$ 706,000 in moral damages to each of the victims: their son Arthur and his wife Ághata; as well as to Franco’s family: her daughter Luyara, her wife Mônica, and her mother Marinete.
Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz have been in prison since March 12, 2019, and have entered into a plea bargain agreement. The individuals accused of ordering the crimes are brothers Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão, who are state audit councilors and a federal deputy, respectively. Deputy Rivaldo Barbosa, head of the Civil Police of Rio at the time of the crime, is accused of obstructing the investigations. The three have been detained since March 24 of this year.
Defendants in the case also include former military police officer Robson Calixto, a former advisor to Domingos Brazão, who allegedly helped him dispose of the murder weapon; and Major Ronald Paulo Alves Pereira, who is said to have monitored Franco’s routine.
According to investigators, the murder of Marielle Franco was motivated by land issues and militias, or paramilitary groups. A disagreement arose between Franco and the political group of then-councilman Chiquinho Brazão regarding a 2016 bill that sought to create an official condominium in the western zone of Rio.
Source: Agência Brasil