See everything you need to know about the Marielle case

The trial of those accused of ordering and planning the murder of councilor Marielle Franco (PSOL), 38, and driver Anderson Gomes, 39, marks a new chapter in one of the most high-profile crimes in the country’s recent history. The case, which is almost eight years old, has gone through phases of progress and paralysis, accusations of obstruction, police operations, plea bargains and convictions. Now, the trial phase has arrived for those accused of ordering and planning the murders. See in a few words everything you need to know about the case.

The five defendants facing trial at the Federal Supreme Court (STF) this Tuesday are: Domingos Brazão, counselor at the Court of Auditors of the State of Rio de Janeiro (TCE-RJ) and Chiquinho Brazão, former federal deputy; Rivaldo Barbosa, delegate of the Rio de Janeiro Civil Police and former head of the corporation; Ronald Paulo Alves Pereira, former major of the Rio de Janeiro Military Police and Robson Calixto Fonseca, former parliamentary advisor known as “Peixe”.

The crime

On the night of March 14, 2018, around 9:30 pm, the car Marielle was in was shot at in the central region of Rio. She had participated in a debate at Casa das Pretas, in the Center, and was heading home, in Tijuca. In the vehicle were advisor Fernanda Chaves, who survived, and Anderson Gomes, who also died at the scene.

The car was hit by fire from an HK MP5 submachine gun. Marielle was hit by four shots; Anderson, for three. The crime provoked international commotion and turned the case into a symbol of the fight against political violence.

The first investigations and the attempted diversion

The investigation began immediately, but two months later it suffered a shock. Three Federal Police delegates presented a witness to the Capital Homicide Police Station who attributed the crime to militia member Orlando Oliveira de Araújo, Orlando Curicica, and then councilor Marcello Siciliano. The version turned out to be false.

The Federal Police themselves uncovered the hoax, in an episode that became known as the “investigation of the investigation”. The alleged whistleblower was military police officer Rodrigo Ferreira, known as Ferreirinha. Subsequently, it was concluded that the objective would be to reach the interests of the rival militia.

Arrest of the executioners

On March 12, 2019, following an anonymous tip, the Civil Police arrested Ronnie Lessa and former PM Élcio de Queiroz in Operation Lume. They were accused of carrying out the crime — Lessa as the shooter, Élcio as the driver of the silver Cobalt used in the ambush. At the house of a friend of Lessa, in Méier, 117 incomplete M-16 rifles were seized. Despite the arrests, the identification of the perpetrators progressed slowly in the following years.

One episode that gained repercussion involved the doorman of the Vivendas da Barra condominium, who stated that Élcio had asked to go to the house of then president Jair Bolsonaro. The investigation concluded, however, that the visitor was looking for Lessa’s address, who lived in the same condominium.

Weapons at sea and frustrated searches

Four months later, a fisherman reported that an ally of Lessa had hired his boat to launch weapons into the sea, near the Tijucas Islands. The Brazilian Navy used sonar to try to locate the material. Structures compatible with metal were identified, but removal was not possible.

Neither the submachine gun used in the crime nor the Cobalt were recovered.

Federalization denied and new strategies

In May 2020, the Superior Court of Justice unanimously rejected a request from the Attorney General’s Office to federalize the case. The rapporteur, minister Laurita Vaz, stated that there was no evidence of omission by state authorities.

Even so, the case inaugurated new methods. For the first time, the Court authorized the breach of confidentiality of users who carried out keyword searches on the internet, at the request of Gaeco. The Federal Supreme Court validated the measure, given the seriousness of the crime.

The turnaround with the denunciations

An error by Lessa ended up being decisive: a note with login and password from the CCFácil website, used to track information. Based on this evidence, investigators confirmed research carried out on Marielle and her daughter.

The material was decisive in convincing Élcio to sign a plea agreement in 2023. He detailed the execution, the escape route and the dismantling of the car. With no room for denial, Lessa also joined the collaboration, in March 2024.

In her statement, Lessa named the brothers Domingos and Chiquinho Brazão as the masterminds, as well as the former head of the Civil Police Rivaldo Barbosa. He also mentioned Major Ronald Paulo and Robson Calixto, the Peixe. According to him, he would receive in payment an area in the West Zone to explore services linked to the militia.

Arrests of those accused of command

On March 24, 2024, the Federal Police launched Operation Murder Inc., which arrested Domingos Brazão, Chiquinho Brazão and Rivaldo Barbosa. Days later, Ronald Paulo and Robson Calixto were arrested.

As Chiquinho was a federal deputy at the time he was indicted and the case was sent to the STF. The rapporteur, Minister Alexandre de Moraes, received the complaint. The case will be judged by the First Panel, also composed of Cristiano Zanin, Cármen Lúcia and Flávio Dino.

All remain in federal prisons.

The condemnation of the executioners

On October 31, 2024, Rio’s 4th Jury Court sentenced Lessa to 78 years and 9 months in prison, and Élcio to 59 years and 8 months. The sentence was received with applause by family and friends of the victims.

What the prosecution and defense say

The prosecution maintains that the crime was motivated by land disputes in Jacarepaguá, an area of ​​political influence of the Brazão. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the execution would have been organized to protect land grabbing interests.

The defenses deny the accusations and claim that the case is essentially based on Lessa’s word. Chiquinho Brazão’s lawyer, Cleber Lopes, argues that there is no independent evidence that confirms the accusation and questions contradictions in the report, such as the destination of the weapon.

With the final arguments presented, the process enters its decisive stage. This Tuesday’s trial is awaited not only by the families of Marielle and Anderson, but by a society that has been following the case since 2018 as a symbol of the fight against impunity.