Activists Demand Justice as Brazil Court Sentences Marielle Franco Assassins

Brazil's Supreme Court has handed down steep sentences to the two men convicted of assassinating Marielle Franco, a prominent activist and city councilwoman in Rio de Janeiro. The ruling comes after years of controversy and public outcry over the 2018 killing, which raised urgent questions about political violence and corruption within Brazil's government.

In a landmark decision, the court sentenced Ronnie Lessa, a former police officer, to 30 years and 9 months in prison for the murder. His alleged accomplice, Elcio Vieira de Queiroz, received a 28-year sentence for his role in carrying out the assassination. The two men were convicted of shooting Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, in a targeted attack that sent shockwaves through Brazil and the global human rights community.

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