Marielle case: Justice extends sentences for Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz

Ronnie Lessa's sentence went from 78 years and nine months to 81 years and 10 months in prison. Élcio Queiroz's sentence increased from 59 years and eight months to 76 years and six months in prison.

With the decision, in a trial held on Tuesday (4), the Rio Court responded to the request of the Specialized Action Group for Combating Organized Crime of the State Public Ministry (Gaeco/MPRJ). In the appeal, the MPRJ stated that it “had not considered relevant circumstances for the dosimetry of the sentence” in the sentence of the 4th Jury Court of the Capital, in October 2024, when Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz were convicted of the murders of Marielle and Anderson and the attempted murder of Fernanda Chaves.

“Gaeco/MPRJ supported the need to increase penalties to ensure the correct application of the legal criteria for individualizing the sanction, due to the high intensity of the intent, the sophisticated planning of the criminal action and the seriousness of the crimes committed”, said the MPRJ in a note.

The manner in which the homicides were carried out, with several shots fired on public roads, in a place with intense movement of people, is among the Gaeco foundations, accepted by the First Criminal Chamber, as well as the international repercussion of the crime and the planning of the criminal action, in addition to the request for recognition of a lesser reduction for the attempted murder against Fernanda Chaves. “Due to the fact that the acts carried out came closer to the consummation of the death of the councilor’s advisor”, he explained.

For the Public Ministry, the entire action was previously planned by the criminals, with the use of a cloned vehicle during the action, a circumstance related to the crime of reception. “The attempted murder of Fernanda Chaves was also highlighted, as she survived because she ducked inside the vehicle, with the councilor's body serving as a shield for the shots”, added the MPRJ.

Ronnie Lessa and Élcio Queiroz were denounced by Gaeco/MPRJ for double homicide, attempted homicide and reception and later convicted by the 4th Jury Court of the Capital in 2024.