The Federal Supreme Court (STF) resumed this Monday (9) the testimony of witnesses in the criminal action of those accused of acting as the masterminds behind the murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco, in 2018, in Rio de Janeiro.
The first witnesses called by the defendants’ defense were heard today. The statements are expected to last until the end of this month and are being conducted by Judge Airton Vieira, assistant to Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the case’s rapporteur. Around 70 people were called. The defendants will testify after all the witnesses have been heard.
The defendants in the case are the advisor to the Court of Auditors of Rio de Janeiro (TCE-RJ), Domingos Brazão; his brother, federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão (No Party-RJ); the former head of the Civil Police of Rio de Janeiro Rivaldo Barbosa; and the Major of the Military Police Ronald Paulo de Alves Pereira. All are charged with the crimes of homicide and organized crime and are in prison.
Among those called to testify are Rio de Janeiro prosecutors Letícia Emile and Simone Sibilio, who were responsible for the initial investigations into the Marielle case. They were nominated by Chiquinho Brazão’s lawyers.
In a petition sent to Minister Alexandre de Moraes, the prosecutors requested exemption from the statements.
“It is a public and notorious fact that both acted, within the scope of the Public Ministry of the State of Rio de Janeiro, as prosecutors in the Task Force in charge of the Marielle Franco Case, Anderson Gomes and Fernanda Chaves, signing the complaint, which prevents them from testifying as witnesses in this criminal action”, justified the prosecutors.
Last month, in the first phase of testimony, the prosecution witnesses, who were appointed by the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), were heard.
The main testimonies were given by former police officers Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz. Both confessed to participating in the murder.
In one of his statements, Lessa said that the defendants are “highly dangerous people.” He signed a plea bargain agreement and admitted to having shot Marielle at the behest of the Brazão brothers.
