For six years and seven months, family and friends of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes have been crying in mourning. Today, October 31st, the tears for the first time were of relief when they heard the sentence in the 4th Jury Court of Rio de Janeiro. Former military police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz were convicted of the murders committed on March 14, 2018.
Confessed killers of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomesformer military police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz were convicted this Thursday (31), by the 4th Jury Court of Rio de Janeiro. Ronnie Lessa at 78 years, 9 months and 30 days. Élcio, 59 years, 8 months and 10 days.
Marielle’s sister, the Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, summarized the long period of struggle for the murderers to be identified and punished.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 10/31/2024 – Anielle Franco (center) talks about the conviction of Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
“We are not going to stop here. In 2018, I said I would honor my sister’s blood and memory. And this here today was a scream that was kept in our throat. A pain stored in the chest and heart of every man and woman here. We will fight, not only for Marielle and Anderson, but for a project that we believe in”, said the minister.
“Marielle’s greatest legacy for this country is proof that women, black people, people living in favelas, when they reach their positions, deserve to stay alive. When they murdered my sister with four shots to the head, they had no idea how strong this country would rise up,” he added.
Regretful testimonials
Anderson’s widow, Ághata Arnaus, thanked everyone who fought for the murderers’ conviction and said she was not moved by Ronnie and Élcio’s regretful statements.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 10/31/2024 – Ághata Arnaus (left), widow of driver Anderson. Photo:Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
“I heard a plea for forgiveness from someone who clearly has no regrets. And he still says it’s to ease his conscience. I say that the one who has to forgive is God or whatever he believes. I don’t forgive. Never. I have peace in my life. But I don’t need to forgive”, said Ághata. “Fifty, seventy years, [isso] it’s little. May they stay there forever. Anderson and Marielle died. It’s forever too,” he added.
Mônica Benicio, councilor and widow of Marielle, spoke about the meanings of today’s sentences for Brazilian society.
“Marielle was murdered for what she defended, for what she fought to defeat, to defend democracy. There is no possible justice that can bring them back to us. But this is a milestone so that it doesn’t happen again. And that is the main message. As the judge said, it is the message for the many Lessas who are free not to have the feeling of impunity”, said Mônica.
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 10/31/2024 – Mônica Benicio, Luyara Santos and Marinete Silva, from left to right. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
Marinete Silva and Luyara Santos, Marielle’s mother and daughter, respectively, highlighted the family’s struggle over the years for those responsible for the crime to be punished.
“Not only me as a mother, but Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, society in general, had been waiting for this for a long time. We have been fighting for six years, seven months and 17 days and we never stopped believing. We knew this would happen one day. And they, yes, [os criminosos] they have to pay”, said Marinete.
“Our courage has brought us here. It’s a very difficult day, because I’m sure none of us wanted to be here today. Ághata wanted Anderson here. I wanted my mother here. But today goes down in the history and democracy of this country. And we hope to take many steps forward in this case as a whole. This is the first step for them. We will continue fighting”, said Luyara.
Marielle’s father, Antônio Francisco, said that today was much awaited by the family, but reinforced that he is still waiting for the conviction of those responsible for the crime.
“It doesn’t end here. Because there are those in charge. And now the question is when the masterminds will be sentenced. Because that crying that they show in their hearings, for me, is not a sincere cry. We cried sincerely, because we lost our daughter, Ághata lost Anderson and Mônica lost Marielle. This cry of ours is sincere. I don’t believe in those and I never will.”
Rio de Janeiro (RJ), 10/31/2024 – Marielle and Anderson’s family speak to the press after the announcement of Ronnie and Élcio’s convictions. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
Next steps
Those accused of being the masterminds of the crimes are the brothers Chiquinho and Domingos Brazão, respectively, counselor at the State Court of Auditors (TCE-RJ) and federal deputy.
Delegate Rivaldo Barbosa, head of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police at the time of the crime, is accused of having hampered the investigations. The three have been in prison since March 24 of this year.
Because of the forum, there is a parallel process in the Federal Supreme Court (STF) that judges the Brazão brothers and delegate Rivaldo Barbosa. Also defendants in the case are former military police officer Robson Calixto, former advisor to Domingos Brazão, who allegedly helped get rid of the murder weapon, and Major Ronald Paulo Alves Pereira, who allegedly monitored Marielle’s routine.
The motivation for Marielle Franco’s murder, according to investigators, involves land issues and militia groups. There was disagreement between Marielle and the political group of then councilor Chiquinho Brazão over Bill (PL) 174/2016, which sought to formalize a condominium in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro.
