Ex-cops get heavy prison time for Rio politician's street murder
A Brazilian court gave two former police-men long jail terms for killing a Rio councilwoman and her driver. The shooting happened on a city street about six years ago
A Rio de Janeiro court set hard prison-time for two ex-cops in the murder case that shook Brazil. The judge gave Ronnie Lessa a 78-year and 9-month sentence; while Élcio de Queiroz got 59 years behind bars
The deadly attack happened in mid-march 2018 when the killers targeted city council-member Marielle Franco (who was known for her work in local politics) and her driver Anderson Gomes. The shooting took place while their car moved through Rioʼs streets
The court found that Lessa pulled the trigger in the drive-by attack — while de Queiroz sat behind the wheel. The jury looked at evidence that showed how both men planned and did the killing: Lessa shot from another car as de Queiroz drove right next to Francoʼs vehicle
