Judge in Brazil sentenced two former police officers to long prison terms

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A judge on Thursday handed lengthy sentences to two former police officers in the 2018 killing of Rio de Janeiro city councilwoman Marielle Franco. Brazil’ The political left, whose killing sparked outrage.

Ronnie Lessa was sentenced to 78 years and 9 months in prison, and Élcio de Queiroz was sentenced to 59 years in prison for the drive-by shooting that killed Franco and his driver Anderson Gomes on March 14, 2018. Jurors found that Lessa fired the gun and that Queiroz was the helmsman the night of the crime.

Lessa and de Queiroz, who were arrested in 2019, had previously signed plea agreements admitting their roles, but the jury had the final word on their guilt on the murder and other charges. The decision, although expected, came as a measure of consolation for many who saw the martyrdom of the black bisexual woman as an attack on democracy and worried that the crime would go unpunished.

Prosecutors argued that each man should be sentenced to the maximum sentence of 84 years in prison for the three crimes. Brazilian law does not allow life imprisonment, and each man will serve no more than 30 years of his sentence.

But Thursday’s sentencing is seen as just one step towards justice being served; There is yet to be another trial for the men accused of ordering his murder.

Known all over the world by her first name, Marielle, Rio’s poor communities known as slums. He became known for his efforts to improve the lives of ordinary residents. After his election in 2016, he fought against violence against women while defending human rights and social programs.