Plan to kill Mariel Franco and dispose of the car: An inmate recounts the details of the crime

One of the two was arrested Assassination of Brazilian activist Mariel Franco In March 2018, Elcio de Queiroz reaches a cooperation agreement with the courts that leads him to confess many details of the event, which ultimately seeks to find the masterminds of the crime. This is an important step in finding an answer to the big question half of Brazil has been asking for the past five years: who ordered Mariel’s murder, and why. The country’s Minister of Justice and Public Security, Flavio Dino, made the matter clear on Monday in a press conference, who did not provide details about the information Queiroz provided to maintain the investigation, although he did hint that it was entirely relevant. “Today’s summary is that Elsio’s confession allows for information that leads to the full dynamic of the crime and other involvement being clearly articulated.”

The minister indicated that in the coming weeks there will be new police operations that can reach those who ordered the killings. He cited the role of militias and organized crime in Rio de Janeiro, which is the main hypothesis that has long been used to explain this political assassination. So far, the federal police investigation has been based on the perpetrators, but this chapter is now considered closed.

Queiroz, a former military police agent, is the person driving the car that was chasing Franco through the streets of downtown Rio de Janeiro on the night of March 14, 2018. In the back seat was Ronnie Lissa, another former military police officer who fired four shots in the face of the council member with a submachine gun. The blast also killed his driver, Anderson Gomez. Both Queiroz and Lisa, the primary authors, were arrested just a year after the murder and have been in a maximum security prison ever since, awaiting a trial that has yet to be set. in your agreement award-winning denunciation, Queiroz confessed to the crime, and gave details of it How did they plan the killing and how did they get rid of the car Later, he presumably provided information that could lead to the masterminds. This delicate agreement with justice would bring him some criminal benefits, but the Minister of Justice argued that he would remain in prison.

He decided to speak after the police connected the dots which led to a third person: Maxwell Simões, better known as a judge, A former firefighter who offered a life of luxury on his social networks and considered himself Lessa’s best friend. The suspect was already in prison and sentenced to four years in prison for obstructing investigations, but was serving his sentence in a semi-open system. This Monday he was arrested again. To date, he has been accused of concealing the murder weapon and entrusting collaborators to dispose of it by throwing it into the sea in front of Barra da Tijuca beach. But it is now known that he worked with Lisa in planning the murder for several months: he kept watching the councilwoman’s routine and waiting for an opportunity. He was driving the car and he was shot. At the end of 2017 they were about to kill her, but Simes claimed a mechanical failure in the car ruined the operation. Lisa interpreted this as backing off and finally calling on Queiroz to take his place; This is how the couple who executed the progressive leader were formed.

Counselor’s sister Anil Franco, who is now the Minister for Racial Equality, On Monday, he said on social media that he trusted the federal police-led investigation, but added: “I repeat the question I’ve been asking for five years: Who ordered the killing of Mariel and why.” During the years when former President Jair Bolsonaro was in power, the Franco family did not want the investigation to leave the civil police in Rio (where it seemed to be stuck) and pass into the hands of the federal police, which depend on the central government. The police establishment began to plunge into the complex case in February of this year, barely a month after the presidency of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who ordered that a thorough adjudication of the murder be given top priority.

Join EL PAÍS to follow all the news and read without limits.

Participate