The First Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) begins this Tuesday (24) the trial of those responsible for the murder of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, which took place in 2018, in Rio de Janeiro.
The trial is scheduled to begin at 9:30 am and will decide whether the accused will be convicted or acquitted. Two more sessions were reserved for the trial of the case, which will be held this afternoon and this Wednesday morning (25).
The defendants on suspicion of participation in the crime are the counselor of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Auditors (TCE-RJ) Domingos Brazão, the former federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão, Domingos’ brother, the former head of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro Rivaldo Barbosa, the Major of the Military Police Ronald Alves de Paula and the former military police officer Robson Calixto, Domingos’ advisor. Everyone is in pre-trial detention.
The trial will be attended by the victims’ families, including the Minister of Racial Equality, Anielle Franco, Marielle’s sister, and Agatha Reis, the driver’s widow.
Indictment
According to the plea bargain of former police officer Ronnie Lessa, a confessed defendant in firing a firearm at the councilor, the brothers Brazão and Barbosa acted as the masterminds of the crime.
Rivaldo Barbosa would have participated in the preparations for the execution of the crime. Ronald is accused of monitoring the councilor’s routine and passing on the information to the group. Robson Calixto would have handed over the weapon used in the crime to Lessa.
According to the Federal Police investigation, Marielle’s murder is related to the parliamentarian’s opposition to the interests of the political group led by the Brazão brothers, who are linked to land issues in areas controlled by militias in Rio.
In statements given during the investigation, the accused denied participation in the murder.
Votes
The vote that will decide on the conviction or acquittal of the accused will have four votes. With the departure of Luiz Fux to the Second Panel, which occurred during the trial of former president Jair Bolsonaro, the collegiate does not have a full quorum of five ministers.
The rite that will be adopted is standard for all trials that take place at the collegiate.
The session will be opened by the president of the First Panel, minister Flávio Dino. The minister will then call the case for judgment and give the floor to Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur, who will read his opinion. The document contains a summary of all the steps taken in the process, from investigations to the presentation of final arguments, the last phase before trial.
After reading the report, Dino will give the floor to the prosecution and defense of the defendants.
The Attorney General’s Office (PGR) will be responsible for the prosecution. After the PGR’s statement, the defendants’ lawyers will be invited to the stand for oral arguments in favor of their clients. They will have up to one hour for consideration.
Then, the ministers must give their votes. In addition to Moraes, ministers Flávio Dino, Cármen Lúcia and Cristiano Zanin are eligible to vote.
