After more than six years since the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, on March 14, 2018, the former military police officers (PMs) accused of the crime, Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz, will go to the popular jury next Wednesday- fair (30).
The date was defined by judge Gustavo Kalil, head of the 4th Jury Court, during a special meeting on the 12th, at the Central Forum of Rio, with representatives of the Public Ministry, prosecution assistants and the defense of the defendants.
Kalil, who will preside over the trial, requested that only the people who will actually participate in the juryto avoid crowding and commotion. Defense and prosecution will have 10 days for final oral evidence.
Marielle Franco, a PSOL councilor, was murdered in the Estácio neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro, on the night of March 14, 2018. She was returning from a meeting of black women in Lapa, when her car was shot at several times. Driver Anderson Gomes was also hit and died.
An aide to the parliamentarian was injured by shrapnel. The crime gained international attention and was considered an attack on democracy.
The crime began a complex investigation, involving several police bodies. After many twists and turns, former PMs Ronnie Lessa and Elcio Queiroz were arrested. This year, the brothers Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão, identified as those responsible for the murders, were arrested, as well as the former head of the Civil Police Rivaldo Barbosa. The case involving the alleged masterminds is being processed at the Federal Supreme Court (STF).
Search for justice
The Marielle Franco Institute considers the trial a decisive moment. “It has been 78 months and more than 2 thousand days that we have been together since Marielle and Anderson were taken from us. We march, we scream, we get emotional, we tie scarves and raise signs in search of justice. Our strength has brought us here and this month justice will finally begin to be done”, he says in a note.
“On October 30th, there will be a trial of those accused of murdering Marielle and Anderson, by popular jury. This is a decisive moment for everyone who fights for justice and for anyone who believes that Brazil needs to be a serious country, which does not allow women, black people, LGBTQIAPN+ and favela residents to be brutally murdered”, he highlights.
The non-governmental organization (NGO) Amnesty International, which is following the case, considers the trial “an important step in the search for justice that began over six years ago. However, there will only be justice, in fact, when Brazilian authorities guarantee that all those responsible for the crime, including planning, as well as all those responsible for possible deviations and obstructions in investigations, are also brought to justice in fair trials, which meet the standards international organizations, and held responsible for their actions”, says the NGO in a statement.
According to Amnesty International, Brazil remains one of the most dangerous places for human rights defenders. According to the Global Witness report, in 2023, the country occupied second position in ranking of those that kill the most activists and environmentalists, with 25 deaths. Between 2012 and 2023, 401 defenders were murdered in the country.
“It is the duty of the Brazilian State to guarantee justice and reparation for families and non-repetition measures so that situations like this do not happen again”, adds the NGO.
Mobilization
This Sunday (27), Marielle Franco’s family has mass celebrated at Christ the Redeemer. The ceremony is organized by Marielle’s mother, father and daughter, respectively, Marinete Silva, Antonio Francisco and Luyara Franco.
On October 30th, the Marielle Franco Institute, Amnesty International and other partner organizations that make up the Justice for Marielle and Anderson Committee hold, at dawn, an event in memory of the councilor and the driver, at 7am, in front of the Court’s headquarters of Justice in Rio. Activists will gather with banners, posters and scarves, demanding justice and reparation. Marielle’s family will also participate in the event.
