Marielle Franco: Prosecutor‑general asks for conviction of the accused
The Office of Brazil’s Prosecutor-General has called on the Supreme Court to convict those accused of involvement in the murder of Councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver Anderson Gomes, which took place in 2018 in Rio de Janeiro.
The statement issued Tuesday (May 13) calls for the conviction of Domingos Brazão, adviser to the Rio de Janeiro Court of Auditors; former Federal Representative Chiquinho Brazão, Domingos’ brother; former Rio de Janeiro Civil Police Commissioner Rivaldo Barbosa; Military Police Major Ronald Alves de Paula; and former Military Police Officer Robson Calixto, Domingos’ adviser.
The request is part of the final arguments in the case, the last stage before the trial.
In the allegations, Deputy Prosecutor Hindenburgo Chateaubriand says the accused should be convicted of the crimes of criminal organization and homicide. The evidence obtained in the investigation, he argues, proves the involvement of the accused in the crime.
According to the plea bargain of former police officer Ronnie Lessa, who confessed to shooting the councilwoman, the Brazão brothers and Barbosa were the masterminds of the crime. Rivaldo Barbosa allegedly took part in the preparations for the execution of the crime. Ronald Alves de Paula is accused of monitoring the councilwoman’s routine and ing on information to the group. Robson Calixto is said ta have given Lessa the gun used in the crime.
According to the Federal Police investigation, Marielle Franco’s murder is linked to her opposition to the interests of the political group led by the Brazão brothers, who in turn are active in land conflicts in areas controlled by militias in Rio.
The rapporteur for the case at the Supreme Court is Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is expected to set the date for the trial.
