Feb. 26 (UPI) -- A pair of brothers who were prominent Brazilian politicians have been convicted in the 2018 murder of Rio de Janeiro councilor Marielle Franco.
João Francisco Inácio Brazão, a former congressman, and Domingos Inácio Brazão, a former adviser to Rio de Janeiro's court of auditors, were each sentenced to 76 years and three months in prison. They were convicted of killing 38-year-old Franco and her 39-year-old driver, Anderson Gomes.
Rivaldo Barbosa, who was the head of the police department's homicide division during the investigation of Franco's killing, was found guilty of obstruction of justice. The court ruled that it did not have sufficient evidence to prove he participated in Franco's murder but that he actively impeded the investigation and received bribes from the Brazãos.
The Supreme Court of Brazil unanimously ruled that the Brazão brothers arranged Franco's killing, using connections with organized crime to carry it out. The killing was believed to be motivated by Franco's opposition to the brothers' political interests.
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