1 of 2 | A pair of brothers who were prominent Brazilian politicians have been convicted in the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro councilor Marielle Franco. File Photo by Mario Vasconcellos/EPA-EFE
A pair of brothers who were prominent Brazilian politicians have been convicted in the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro councilor Marielle Franco.
João Francisco Inácio Brazão, a former congressman, and Domingos Inácio Brazão, a former adviser to Rio de Janeiro’s court of auditors, were each sentenced to 76 years and three months in prison. They were convicted of killing 38-year-old Franco and her 39-year-old driver, Anderson Gomes.
Rivaldo Barbosa, who was the head of the police department’s homicide division during the investigation of Franco’s killing, was found guilty of obstruction of justice. The court ruled that it did not have sufficient evidence to prove he participated in Franco’s murder but that he actively impeded the investigation and received bribes from the Brazãos.
The Supreme Court of Brazil unanimously ruled that the Brazão brothers arranged Franco’s killing, using connections with organized crime to carry it out. The killing was believed to be motivated by Franco’s opposition to the brothers’ political interests.
Franco specifically opposed a series of housing developments in poor neighborhoods in Rio de Janeiro that would benefit organized crime financially. She was also a vocal critic of political violence and the deployment of armed militants into poor neighborhoods.
“Marielle Franco became a highly significant obstacle to the economic and political interests of those who ordered the crime,” Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
Alexandre de Moraes added that the brothers “didn’t just have contact with the militia. They were the militia.”
Franco was killed in a drive-by shooting in March 2018, as she was leaving an event where she delivered a speech. Her press officer was also wounded but survived. She was a member of the Socialism and Liberty Party, a left-wing political organization.
Two former police officers were arrested and convicted in 2024 for carrying out the shooting. Ronnie Lessa confessed to pulling the trigger and was sentenced to 78 years and nine months in prison. Élcio de Queiroz, the wheelman, was sentenced to 59 years and eight months.
“It was eight years of struggle to find out who ordered Marielle’s killing and why,” Anielle Franco, minister of racial equality and Marielle Franco’s sister, said in a social media post. “It was eight years fighting for full justice.”
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Violeta Chamorro, NicaraguaPresident-elect of Nicaragua Violeta Chamorro makes victory signs after attending Sunday service in Houston on March 11, 1990. Chamorro was the first woman elected president of Nicaragua and the first female president in the Americas. She led the country from 1990 to 1997 following the end of the Contra War. Photo by George Wong/UPI | License Photo
