Former advisor to councilwoman Marielle Franco, Fernanda Chaves, gave testimony this Monday (12) to the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
The only survivor of the attack, Fernanda was, alongside Marielle, in the car that was machine-gunned by former military police officer and confessed defendant Ronnie Lessa, in March 2018. The vehicle was driven by driver Anderson Gomes.
Fernanda was named by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR) in the criminal case in which the defendants for the murder of Marielle and Anderson Gomes are the counselor of the Court of Auditors of Rio de Janeiro (TCE-RJ), Domingos Brazão, his brother, Chiquinho Brazão, federal deputy (without Party-RJ), the former chief of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro Rivaldo Barbosa and the Major of the Military Police Ronald Paulo de Alves Pereira. All are charged with the crimes of homicide and criminal organization and are in prison.
During her testimony, Fernanda recounted the moments leading up to the crime. She said that the burst of gunfire was short. When she was hit, the councilwoman’s body leaned over the aide, who was crouched on the floor of the vehicle.
“I wasn’t hit because Marielle was my shield,” said Fernanda.
The former advisor also said that she realized that Anderson Gomes had been hit, as she saw that “his hands, which were on the steering wheel, had come loose.”
The witness also confirmed that the councilwoman defended housing agendas in areas of the west zone of Rio de Janeiro, controlled by militias.
“Her mandate’s agenda in these areas happened. The urban planning advisory team was on agendas in the west zone at times. It’s complicated to say militia areas, to attribute territory to criminals, but, yes, there was work on this. Marielle made this dialogue with the Public Defender’s Office to deal with this issue”, he added.
According to the Federal Police, the murder occurred at the behest of the Brazão brotherswith the participation of Rivaldo Barbosa, and was motivated to protect the economic interests of militias and discourage acts of political opposition to Marielle. The basis of the accusation is the plea bargain of former police officer Ronnie Lessa, who confessed to carrying out the murders.
The defendants have called 70 defense witnesses in the criminal case. The defendants’ statements will only be taken at the end of the trial.
During the trial that turned the accused into defendants, the defenses spoke out and rejected the accusations of participation in the murder of the councilwoman.
