“In order to expand federal cooperation in the investigation of the criminal organization responsible for the murders of Marielle and Anderson (Gomes), I have decided to open an investigation with the federal police. We do everything we can to help solve such crimes,” Dino wrote on Twitter.
When he took office in January, the minister promised the human rights defender’s relatives: “It is a point of honor for the Brazilian state to make and do all possible and reasonable efforts to finally uncover this crime. “».
Franco of the Socialism and Freedom party and his driver Gomes were killed in a central area of Rio on the night of March 14, 2018.
Thirteen shots from a highly accurate HK MP5 submachine gun, used only by elite police forces, hit the vehicle they were traveling in.
The families of both claim to have lost hope of solving the crime.
To this day, there is no clarity as to who was intellectually responsible for the fatal transgression, which was being investigated by Rio’s civilian police and Ministry of State.
Throughout this period, investigations indicate the involvement of militiamen from the security forces.
On March 14, 2019, retired police officer Ronnie Lessa and former military officer Élcio Queiroz were arrested on charges of materially perpetrating the crime.
The motivation for the killing is still unclear, but reports say Franco was killed because of her human rights activism.
According to authorities close to the investigation, the reasons that led to the deadly attacks were linked to the causes defended by the activist.
The case had international resonance and made the sociologist and feminist a political symbol in the fight for human rights and the greater participation of black women in spaces of power in Brazil.
After almost five years, the question arises: “Who ordered the murder of Marielle Franco?” Still no answer.
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