Brazilian police arrest suspects in killing of councilwoman-turned-icon
RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s federal police arrested two men Sunday for allegedly ordering the killing of a popular Rio de Janeiro councilwoman in 2018, a longawaited step after years of society clamoring for justice.
The assassination of Marielle Franco, a 38-year-old city councilwoman, in a driveby shooting shook Brazil profoundly and reverberated around the world. She stood out as one of the only Black women on the council and was also bisexual. Her assertiveness and mere presence ruffled some people, but she remained unbowed.
Police investigators said federal legislator 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, including protection.
Ubiratan Guedes, the lawyer representing Domingos Brazão, denied the accusations against his client. “He did not know Marielle, had no connection with Marielle,” he told reporters.
Lawyers for Chiquinho Brazão, who served on Rio’s council at the same time as Franco and is now a congressman, and former police chief Rivaldo Barbosa, said their clients denied any wrongdoing, according to local media.
Federal Justice Minister Ricardo Lewandowski said at a news conference that the motivation for the crime was “complex because that group (the Brazãos) has multiple interests.” He said investigations suggested lawmaker Chiquinho Brazão was especially upset about a bill that his then-colleague Franco sponsored at the city council about regulation of land to build public housing in Rio.
“At this moment we have it very clear who are the perpetrators of this hateful, heinous crime of political nature,” said the minister, who added that four other people had documents seized. Among them, he said, is a police detective who also investigated the case, Giniton Lages. Mr. Lewandowski also said the men jailed earlier will be transferred from Rio to the capital Brasilia.
The arrests of the men who allegedly ordered Franco’s killing came four days after Brazil’s Supreme Court validated a plea bargain for the shooter, who was arrested along with the getaway driver in 2019.
The investigation into Franco’s murder had been troubled for years. Rio’s state civil police couldn’t break the case after the arrest and indictment of the shooter and getaway driver. The lead detectives were changed four times prior to February 2023. Federal authorities then attempted to take control of the case, but were not allowed to, which also increased suspicions of obstruction, according to Mr. Lewandowski.
The getaway driver admitted to the double murder of Franco and her driver. The shooter, disgraced former police officer Ronnie Lessa, signed a plea bargain
deal with authorities in January and his admission led to Sunday’s arrests.
Mr. Barbosa, the head of Rio’s police when the murder took place, was also arrested for alleged obstruction of the investigation, federal police chief Andrei Rodrigues said in a news conference.
“He actively sough to redirect the investigation from
those who ordered the killing,” Chief Rodrigues said.
Earlier, Franco’s widow, Monica Benicio, said Mr. Barbosa offered her his sympathies after the slaying, promising to be tough in his efforts to find the killers.
Political violence isn’t uncommon in Rio, and such killings are often linked to territorial and political disputes.