Overview

• Ronnie Lessa and Élcio de Queiroz were sentenced to 78 and 59 years in prison, respectively, for the murder of Marielle Franco and her driver in a 2018 drive-by shooting.
• Lessa, who fired the weapon, and de Queiroz, who drove the vehicle, confessed to their roles in the crime but faced a jury trial for final sentencing.
• The sentencing is seen as a step toward justice, with further trials pending for those accused of orchestrating the assassination.
• Franco's murder highlighted alleged connections between militias, police, and politicians, with ongoing investigations into these ties.
• Marielle Franco, known for her advocacy for human rights and against police brutality, remains a symbol of resistance and justice in Brazil.