The Task Force of the Specialized Action Group to Combat Organized Crime for the Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes (Gaeco) case of the Public Ministry of Rio de Janeiro (MPRJ) presented appeals to increase the sentences of Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Vieira de Queiroz, convicted of the double murder of councilor Marielle Franco and driver Anderson Gomes. The crime occurred on March 14, 2018.
In the appeal, Gaeco demands the maximum sentence for the two homicides and one attempted: 30 years for Anderson, 30 for Marielle, 20 for Fernanda Chaves, who was also in the car, totaling 80 years and another two years for receiving the Cobalt car used in the day of the crime.
On October 31, the Justice condemned Ronnie Lessa to 78 years, 9 months and 30 days in prison and Élcio Queiroz to 59 years, 8 months and 10 days. They must also pay R$706,000 in compensation to Anderson and Marielle’s relatives.
In the document sent to the 4th Jury Court, the Public Prosecutor’s Office highlights the need to review the sentences, under the argument that fundamental aspects related to the seriousness of the crimes, such as the international repercussion and the modus operandiwere not adequately considered in the first instance sentence.
Among the points presented by the task force are the use of automatic weapons and silencers, the planned ambush in the center of Rio and the destruction of evidence by the accused. In the request, the prosecutors highlighted the global commotion generated by the case, which negatively impacted Brazil’s image on the international scene.
The appeal also calls for greater rigor in the dosimetry of sentences, including the review of the attempted murder against Fernanda Chaves, Marielle’s advisor, who survived the attack, and the expansion of the punishment for the crime of receiving the vehicle used in the crime.
