logo
APTOPIX Brazil Marielle Franco Trial
The sister, left, and widow of slain councilwoman Marielle Franco embrace after a judge sentenced two former police officers for the 2018 murder of Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes, at the Court of Justice in Rio de Janeiro, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

Brazil judge gives 2 former cops long sentences for the 2018 murder of leftist icon Marielle Franco

A judge has 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’s political left whose killing sparked outrage

By GABRIELA SÁ PESSOA and ELÉONORE HUGHES
Published - Oct 31, 2024, 08:35 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 05:45 PM EST

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — 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’ s political left whose killing sparked outrage.

Ronnie Lessa and Élcio 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 — double homicide, attempted homicide and driving a cloned vehicle.

Our Offices
  • 10kInfo, Inc.
    13555 SE 36th St
    Bellevue, WA 98006
  • 10kInfo Data Solutions, Pvt Ltd.
    Claywork Create
    11 km, Arakere Bannerghatta Rd, Omkar Nagar, Arekere,
    Bengaluru, Karnataka 560076
4.2 12182024