The trial of former Rio de Janeiro Military Police sergeants, Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz, was suspended on Wednesday (30) after more than 10 hours of deliberations. The session will resume this Thursday (31) at 8am. Both are defendants in the murder of councilor Marielle Franco (PSOL) and driver Anderson Gomes, which occurred in 2018.
The trial session began at 10 am on Wednesday, at the 4th Jury Court of Rio de Janeiro. The trial takes place more than six years after the attack, on March 14, 2018. Marielle was shot three times in the head and once in the neck and Anderson was shot at least three times in the back.
The sentence for the crime with the convictions could be announced this Thursday morning (31).
During the first day of the trial, in addition to defendants Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz, nine witnesses were heard, seven indicated by the state Public Prosecutor’s Office and two by Ronnie Lessa’s defense. Élcio Queiroz’s defense gave up hearing witnesses.
The defendants gave statements and attended the trial via videoconference from the prisons where they are held. Lessa is detained at the Tremembé Penitentiary Complex, in São Paulo, while Queiroz is at the Complexo da Papuda, a federal prison in Brasília.
Testimonials
The first to speak was advisor Fernanda Chaves, survivor of the attack. Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz were disconnected from the virtual session at the witness’ request.
Chaves narrated what he remembers from the night of March 14, 2018. According to the advisor, Marielle said absolutely nothing after being hit. Fernanda noticed that Anderson reacted in pain and let go of the steering wheel. Marielle remained motionless. The witness recalled that he was not wearing a seat belt, so he was able to lower himself.
After the advisor, Marielle’s mother was the second to be heard in court. Very emotional, Marinete Silva stated that “a piece of me was taken away”.
When confronted with a print of a conversation, Marinete confided to the jury that she even sent a message to her dead daughter’s cell phone: “My daughter! What did they do to you?” the message said.
After the mother, it was the turn of Rio de Janeiro councilwoman, Monica Benício, widow of Marielle Franco. His speech lasted just over 30 minutes. The architect and councilor began her comments by remembering her wife’s personality.
In her statement, the widow highlighted that “Marielle was at the happiest moment of her life, as she herself recognized.”
After Marielle’s widow, the fourth to give a statement was the widow of driver Anderson Gomes, Agatha Arnaus.
She recalled that he started working early and used to be a very responsible professional. The husband wanted to be a father and the couple had their son Arthur, a disabled child.
After Agatha, they testified:
- Carlos Alberto Paúra Júnior, researcher
- Luismar Cortelettili, Rio Civil Police officer
- Carolina Rodrigues Linhares, criminal expert
- Guilhermo Catramby, PF delegate
- Marcelo Pasqualetti, federal police officer
Defendants
After the testimony of the nine witnesses, the defendants were also heard. The first to speak was Ronnie Lessa. He stated that the motivation for executing the councilor was financial and that he would earn R$25 million to commit the crime.
“I went blind; my share was R$25 million. I could say it like this: it was the pope, and I was going to kill the pope, because I was blind and I recognized it. I will fulfill my role until the end, and I am absolutely certain that justice will be served”, said the former police officer.
Lessa also said that she regrets having committed the crime and asked the victims’ family for forgiveness.
“I would like to take the opportunity and, with absolute sincerity and regret, ask forgiveness from the families of Anderson, Marielle, my own and the entire society for the actions that brought us here”, stated Lessa.
Élcio de Queiroz’s testimony was the last of the session. He stated that he was not aware that it was a homicide until the day of the crime.
“The moment I realized it was a homicide was when he parked and said: now you have to help me. He goes back, I look in the rearview mirror and he [Lessa] He is getting equipped, he takes the submachine gun out of his bag and puts on a silencer,” said the defendant.
Queiroz also described the dynamics of the crime, saying that at the time, he believed that only the councilor had been killed.
“Anderson’s car was stopped across the street. Ronnie said: ‘It’s now, pair it’. When he spoke, I went towards the car, letting my driver’s window be parallel to the passenger’s window. Ronnie had already rolled down the window, and I only heard the shots; it was a blast”, added Queiroz.
After Queiroz’s testimony, judge Lúcia Glioche suspended the session and rescheduled the session for the following day.
This content was originally published in Marielle Case: trial is suspended after more than 10 hours on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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