A man is convicted in the killing of noted Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco

Updated 3:17 PM CDT, September 30, 2024

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — A judge has convicted a man of obstructing the investigation into the assassination of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman Marielle Franco and sentenced him to five years in prison.

The conviction of Edilson Barbosa dos Santos was the first in the 2018 shooting death of Franco, who was prominent as the only Black woman on the council and as a bisexual. Dos Santos was accused of dismantling a car used in the drive-by shooting, and his conviction was published Monday by the Rio de Janeiro state court.

Former policeman Ronnie Lessa has confessed to killing Franco as part of a plea bargain, but he has yet to be sentenced.

In March, federal lawmaker Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos Brazão, a member of Rio state’s accounts watchdog, were detained on suspicion of ordering the killing of Franco. Both are allegedly connected to criminal groups, known as militias, which illegally charge residents for various services.

Both have denied any wrongdoing in the case.

https://apnews.com/article/councilwoman-marielle-franco-first-jailed-brazil-e04c3037bfd4188ea8ca60d81b9e6dcf

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Older article, Washington Post, several years ago:

‘This will not stick’: Brazilian president lashes out over alleged links to left-wing politician’s killing

By Terrence McCoy, Marina Lopes and Teo Armus
October 30, 2019 at 6:43 p.m. EDT

RIO DE JANEIRO — He shouted. He swore. He pointed a finger at the camera. His voice wavered and cracked. This was Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro indignant, airing grievances, vowing retribution.

“Why do they want to destroy me?” he asked during the live stream at 4 a.m. Wednesday from Saudi Arabia. “I shouldn’t lose it,” he said at another point, a tear glistening on his cheek. “I’m the president of the republic.”

A prominent media outlet here had just connected him to two men accused of killing a leftist politician here. But rather than defuse the explosive claims, Bolsonaro’s emotional and profane response appeared to draw greater attention to them on Wednesday, as people in and out of Latin America’s largest country openly questioned the president’s mental stability.

“He tried to put the flames out with gasoline,” said Alexandre Bandeira, a political strategist in Brasilia. “He had blood in his eyes … almost as if he were calling for a duel.”

Prosecutors later cast doubt on the report by Globo, saying its source had lied, or was confused. But Bolsonaro’s widely viewed video had left its mark. In this deeply polarized country, it was seen either as proof of Bolsonaro’s willingness to buck norms and speak forthrightly, or as a portrait of an unhinged man with dangerously autocratic instincts, ready to make good on his threat to take away Globo’s broadcasting license.

More:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/10/30/jair-bolsonaro-marielle-franco-murder-link/

When the whole truth finally does get acknowledged, the world will see the blame for this did go all the way to the very fascist top of the political fascist food chain. What a shame for both this heroine and her heroic driver who had just become a father, and for so many hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people worldwide who mourn them.