Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced two politician siblings for ordering the murder of a well-known transgender activist eight years ago, stating she was a threat to their interests.
Foreign news agencies reported on 25 Feb 2026 that Brazil's Supreme Court sentenced two politicians to over 76 years in prison each for ordering the 2018 killing of Marielle Franco, a renowned activist and Rio de Janeiro city council member.
Siblings Domingos Inácio Bragança and João Francisco Inácio Bragança were convicted as the masterminds behind the attack, where assailants in a car ambushed Franco's vehicle, killing her and her female driver, Anderson Gomes.
Franco, a Black woman and LGBTQ individual, was a prominent figure in Brazil's Socialist Party; her death at age 38 sparked nationwide protests.
All four judges unanimously agreed that the Bragança siblings targeted Franco because she was a threat to their interests.
Franco had worked with the Rio city council to oppose housing development projects in poor communities, which were major revenue sources for criminal groups.
This case exposed connections between politicians and criminal organizations. Judge Alexandre de Moraes stated the siblings "are not merely linked to criminal groups but are the criminal groups themselves."
Meanwhile, Carmen Lúcia, the sole female Supreme Court judge, described the trial as causing "great psychological and spiritual trauma," questioning how many more "Marielles" Brazil will allow to be killed.
Marielle's sister, Anielle Franco, who serves as Minister of Racial Equality, praised Brazil's justice system via Instagram, saying this ruling "honors the memory of Marielle and Anderson."
She added, "We have fought for eight years to find out who ordered Marielle's killing and why. It has been eight years of struggle for complete justice."
In 2024, two former police officers were imprisoned for Marielle's murder: Ronnie Lessa confessed to being the shooter and received 78 years and 9 months; Elcio de Queiroz was sentenced to 59 years and 8 months as the driver.
The Bragança siblings were also arrested in 2024 after Lessa made a plea deal, implicating them as the masterminds behind the murder.
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Source:bbc