RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) 鈥 A judge on Thursday handed down long sentences to two former police officers for the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman Marielle Franco, an icon of Brazil鈥 s political left whose killing sparked outrage.
Ronnie Lessa and 脡lcio de Queiroz were sentenced to almost 79 years and almost 60 years, respectively, for the March 14, 2018 drive-by shooting that killed Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes. Jurors found that Lessa fired the gun and de Queiroz was the wheelman on the night of the crime.
Lessa and de Queiroz, arrested in 2019, previously signed plea bargains confessing their roles, but the jury had final word on their guilt on homicide and other charges. The verdict, although expected, comes as a measure of solace to the many who saw the martyrdom of the Black, bisexual woman as an attack on democracy, and worried that the crime would go unpunished.
The prosecutors had argued each man should be sentenced to the maximum possible 84 years for the three counts 鈥 double homicide, attempted homicide and driving a cloned vehicle.
As Judge Lucia Glioche finished reading the sentence, applause erupted in the room as victims鈥 families began to cry. Marielle鈥檚 sister, Anielle Franco, Brazil鈥檚 minister for racial equality, held a long, tearful embrace with her parents and Marielle鈥檚 daughter, Luyara Franco. Her father rested his head on the chest of former congressman Marcelo Freixo, who was her political mentor.
Brazilian law does not allow for life imprisonment, and each man will serve no more than 30 years of their sentences. Due to their sealed plea bargains, local media has reported that Queiroz and Lessa may serve 12 and 18 years in prison, respectively, including time already served. Prosecutors have denied their sentenced would be reduced.
Either way, Thursday鈥檚 sentencing is seen as only a step toward justice being done, with another trial yet to come for the men accused of ordering her killing. They will also have to pay 706,000 reais ($122,000) in moral damages to several of the victims鈥 family members and provide an allowance to the young son of Gomes until he turns 24, according to a statement on the court's website.
Known universally by her first name, Marielle, she was raised in one of . She became known for her efforts to improve the lives of ordinary residents. Following her election in 2016, she fought against violence targeting women while defending human rights and social programs.
Testimony Wednesday during the offered details about the moments preceding and following the shooting. Franco鈥檚 assistant and friend who was also in the car, Fernanda Chaves, was among those giving testimony, as was Franco鈥檚 mother and her partner M么nica Ben铆cio.
Choked up and often unable to talk, Ben铆cio said the last thing Marielle ever said to her was 鈥淚 love you.鈥
鈥淲e had plans to get married with a wedding party. When Marielle died, what I felt was that they had taken away our promise of the future,鈥 she said, later adding that the right to a just city was one of Marielle鈥檚 causes.
鈥淢arielle also defended the right to decent housing from the perspective of the favela, the periphery, this was the theme of the city鈥檚 rights agenda.鈥
Both defendants participated in the trial by videoconference from prison. Lessa is in Sao Paulo while de Queiroz is in Brazil鈥檚 capital, Brasilia.
Federal authorities started investigating the case in earnest once leftist President Luiz In谩cio Lula da Silva took office in 2023.
With Lessa and de Queiroz sentenced, attention will now turn to the men accused of ordering the hit: known as militias, which illegally charge residents for various services, including protection.
Guilhermo Catramby, a Federal Police detective, told the court Wednesday that the assassination was 鈥渦ndoubtedly鈥 motivated by Marielle鈥檚 work regarding land rights, especially in the west side of Rio de Janeiro. Her work there was 鈥渁 thorn in the side of militia interests,鈥 Catramby said.
In March, , a member of Rio state鈥檚 accounts watchdog. They have denied any involvement in the killing or with militias and have yet to go on trial.
In his plea bargain, Lessa told police that the politician brothers hired him and informed him that the then-chief of the state鈥檚 civil police, Rivaldo Barbosa, had signed off beforehand. Barbosa, who also denies any involvement, was arrested in March.
Marielle鈥檚 family and 脕gatha Arnaus, widow of Gomes, spoke to journalists after the trial. Holding hands, they said that while the conviction offered some reparation after years of struggle and pain, it was just the first step in a long journey toward justice.
鈥淚 wanted my mother here, but today will certainly go down in this country鈥檚 democratic history,鈥 said Luyara, the councilwoman鈥檚 daughter, holding back tears.
鈥淚f the justice system had not convicted these two cruel murderers, we wouldn鈥檛 have a moment of peace. But this doesn鈥檛 end here,鈥 said Antonio Francisco da Silva, Marielle鈥檚 father. 鈥淭here are those who ordered the crime. Now the question is: when will those who ordered it be convicted?鈥
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S谩 Pessoa reported from Sao Paulo.
