The First Panel of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) formed a majority vote this Thursday (14) to maintain the arrest of the counselor of the Rio de Janeiro Court of Auditors (TCE-RJ), Domingos Brazão, accused of being involved as the mastermind of the murder of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes, in 2018.
The understanding was formed in the virtual trial in which the accused’s defense intends to reverse the minister’s decision that ordered Domingos’ arrest, which was carried out in March this year. Brazão is imprisoned in the federal penitentiary in Porto Velho.
So far, in addition to the rapporteur, minister Alexandre de Moraes, ministers Cristiano Zanin, Cármen Lúcia and Flávio Dino have spoken out in favor of maintaining the prison. Luiz Fux’s vote is missing. The trial is scheduled to end on Monday (18).
In maintaining his opinion in favor of arrest, Moraes said that his decision is based on the Supreme Court’s jurisprudence and suspicions of interference in the murder investigations. Therefore, it is not appropriate to replace prison with precautionary measures, as the defense wants.
“The presence of elements indicative of the aggressor’s action to obstruct the investigations (facts that are being subject to autonomous investigation, in Inq 4.967/RJ, from my rapporteur), also reinforce the need to maintain his preventive detention and prevent its replacement for precautionary measures other than prison”, explained Moraes.
In addition to Domingos, federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão, Domingos’ brother, and the former head of the Civil Police of Rio Rivaldo Barbosa are also arrested for their alleged involvement in the murder.
According to the investigation carried out by the Federal Police, 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.
According to the former police officer’s plea bargain Ronnie Lessaa self-confessed defendant of shooting the councilwoman with a firearm, the brothers Brazão and Barbosa acted as the masterminds of the crime.
