Brazilian Politician Brothers Convicted for Ordering Murder of Rio City Councillor
Two influential Brazilian politician brothers have been convicted by Brazil's supreme court for ordering the murder of Marielle Franco, the Rio de Janeiro city councillor, nearly eight years after the shocking crime that drew international attention. João Francisco Inácio Brazão, known as Chiquinho, and Domingos Inácio Brazão received sentences totaling 76 years and three months in prison for the murders of Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes.
A High-Profile Case with Deep Political Implications
The unanimous decision by the justices marks a significant milestone in a case that security experts and human rights activists describe as a chilling example of how ties between politics, crime, and police are deeply entrenched in Rio de Janeiro, reaching the highest levels of public administration. Marielle Franco, a gay Black woman and rising political star, was an outspoken critic of police violence and corruption when she was killed in a drive-by shooting in March 2018.
Justice Cármen Lúcia described the proceedings as "very painful" during her announcement, stating that human justice could not fully soothe the pain experienced by the victims' families. "This trial is merely a timid, almost embarrassed testimony on my part of the response the law can offer in the face of the searing, atrocious pain born on the faces of the mother, the daughter, the son, the widows," Lúcia added, referring to relatives present in the courtroom.
Complex Investigation with Multiple Convictions
The nearly decade-long journey to secure convictions involved numerous obstacles, including destruction of evidence, frequent changes in lead investigators, and revelations that former homicide division head Rivaldo Barbosa actively worked to obstruct the investigation. While Barbosa was not convicted of murder due to insufficient evidence of direct involvement, he was found guilty of obstruction of justice and corruption for accepting bribes from the Brazão brothers.
The case reached Brazil's supreme court because Chiquinho Brazão was a congressman when his involvement was uncovered. The convictions follow more than a year after two former police officers who carried out the killings received sentences. Ronnie Lessa, who fired the shots, and Élcio de Queiroz, who drove the getaway car, were sentenced to decades in prison in October 2024, with their terms reduced to a maximum of 30 years after confessing and cooperating with investigators.
Motive Revealed: Disrupting Lucrative Illegal Schemes
According to testimony, Lessa stated he was hired by the Brazão brothers—long accused of involvement with paramilitary mafia groups known as militias—to kill Franco after they became frustrated by her efforts to disrupt lucrative housing development schemes. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, the case rapporteur, explained that "Marielle Franco became a highly significant obstacle to the economic and political interests of those who ordered the crime."
The Brazão brothers' militia was involved in highly profitable illegal activities including land occupation—often in environmentally protected areas—followed by property development and provision of services such as electricity and internet. Franco, who served alongside Chiquinho on Rio's city council, was a vocal advocate for housing rights and frequently warned residents against participating in new illegal projects created by the militia.
"Marielle Franco was a black, poor woman who was confronting the interests of militiamen," Moraes emphasized. "What stronger message could they send? In the misogynistic, prejudiced minds of those who ordered and carried out the killing, who would care about this [her murder]?"
Additional Convictions and Broader Implications
Despite defense attempts to discredit Lessa's confession, all justices agreed there was "abundant evidence" supporting the Brazão brothers' convictions beyond the testimony. Two additional former police officers were also convicted: Ronald Paulo de Alves Pereira for monitoring Franco's routine before the crime, and Robson Calixto Fonseca, known as The Fish, for delivering the murder weapon to Lessa.
Jurema Werneck, executive director of Amnesty International in Brazil, hailed the convictions as "a fundamental milestone, a chance to turn the page in the history of Rio and Brazil." She emphasized that the decision affirms the need to protect human rights defenders and marks a turning point in fighting impunity to prevent similar crimes from recurring.
The case continues to resonate as a powerful example of the complex intersections between political power, criminal networks, and law enforcement in Brazil, with the convictions representing a significant step toward accountability in a nation grappling with systemic corruption and violence against activists.
