Brazil’s Supreme Court imposes steep sentences for Marielle Franco murder

The shooting of Franco, an activist, raised questions about political violence and corruption within Brazil’s government.Published On 26 Feb 2026A panel on Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled to convict five men accused of plotting the 2018 assassination of a human rights leader-turned politician Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes.The justices on the panel were unanimous in Wednesday’s decision, which marked the climax of a closely watched trial that raised questions about polarisation, corruption and race in Brazilian society.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘Marielle lives!’ Brazil remembers slain activistlist 2 of 3The Murder of Marielle Francolist 3 of 3Brazilian police arrest new suspect in killing of Marielle Francoend of list“Human justice is not capable of soothing this pain,” Justice Carmen Lucia told the victims’ families, as the court handed down decades-long sentences to the five defendants.At the time of her death, Franco, 38, was a city councillor in the city of Rio de Janeiro, just one year into her term. She was considered an up-and-coming member of the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party.A Black woman from the favelas — Brazil’s densely populated, low-income neighbourhoods — Franco was best known for campaigning for the rights of LGBTQ people, racial minorities and women.She had also used her platform to denounce excessive police violence in the favelas, as well as illicit land appropriations on the part of local authorities.On March 14, 2018, after an evening debate in Rio de Janeiro, a car pulled alongside the vehicle carrying Franco and Gomes.The assailant fired 13 bullets into their vehicle. Franco and Gomes were killed, and an aide also travelling in the vehicle was injured.Prosecutors have called the attack an assassination, designed to silence Franco and prevent her from pushing back against powerful interests.