Two former police officers in Brazil have been sentenced for the murder of Marielle Franco, a prominent left-wing politician shot dead in a drive-by attack in 2018.
Franco’s driver, Anderson Gomes, was also killed in the assault, while her press officer, Fernanda Chaves, survived.
Ronnie Lessa, who confessed to firing the shots, received a sentence of 78 years and nine months, while his accomplice, Élcio de Queiroz, who drove the vehicle, was sentenced to 59 years and eight months.
Franco, a gay Black woman and a rising star in Brazil’s socialist party, was just 38 years old when she was murdered, prompting widespread protests across the country.
Speaking via video link from prison, Lessa claimed he was “blinded” and “driven crazy” by the allure of a million-dollar reward for the murder.
In March 2024, Brazil’s Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski stated that the killing was “evidently politically motivated,”
highlighting Franco’s advocacy for converting property for low-income housing, which conflicted with commercial interests.
Both defendants entered plea bargains that led to the arrests of politician Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos in March, suspected of orchestrating the hit.
Lessa alleged that the Brazão brothers informed him that Rivaldo Barbosa, then the state’s police chief, had approved the murder. Barbosa was arrested the same month.
Following the sentencing, Franco’s father, Antônio da Silva Neto, vowed to continue seeking justice, emphasizing the need to hold the masterminds accountable.
“It doesn’t end here because there were masterminds of the crime.
The question we’re asking now is: When will the masterminds be convicted?” he stated.
Under Brazilian law, life sentences are not imposed, so both men are expected to serve a maximum of 30 years.
They have also been ordered to pay 706,000 reais (approximately $120,000) in damages to Franco’s family and to provide a pension for Gomes’ son, Arthur, until he turns 24.
Chaves, who was in the car during the attack, shared her experience in court, revealing how that night “completely changed” her life.
After the incident, she and her family fled Brazil, missing Franco’s funeral, but has since returned.
In her testimony, she expressed that those responsible would forever be haunted by Franco’s memory: “They took Marielle from us, but they couldn’t take away what Marielle means.”
After the verdict was announced, family and friends in the courtroom celebrated, chanting, “Marielle is here! Anderson is here!” a phrase that has become a rallying cry in protests since the murders.
Anielle Franco, the Minister of Racial Equality and Marielle’s sister, affirmed that her sister’s legacy would serve as evidence that women and Black individuals from marginalized communities deserve safety and respect in positions of power.
“While there is blood running through our veins, we will keep defending the legacy and memory of Marielle and Anderson,” she asserted.
Investigations continue into Barbosa and the Brazão brothers, who deny any involvement in the murder or in militia activities.
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