The confessed assassins of councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes — former military police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz — were sentenced on Thursday (10/31) 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 base motive, ambush, and obstruction of the victim’s defense; attempted homicide against Fernanda Chaves (Franco’s advisor); and receiving the vehicle used in the crime. Marielle 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, together, to pay R$ 706,000 in compensation for moral damages to each of the victims: his son Arthur and his wife Ághata; as well as Marielle’s relatives: 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 signed a plea bargain agreement. The accused masterminds of the crimes are brothers Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão, advisors to the State Court of Accounts and a federal deputy, respectively. Deputy Rivaldo Barbosa, head of the Civil Police of Rio at the time of the crime, is accused of hindering the investigations. The three have been in custody since March 24 of this year.
The 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 reportedly monitored Marielle’s routine.
According to investigators, the murder of Marielle Franco was motivated by land issues and militia or paramilitary groups. A disagreement arose between her and the political group of then-councilman Chiquinho Brazão over a 2016 bill that sought to create an official condominium in the western zone of Rio.
Source: Agência Brasil