Witness Accuses City Councilor in Murder of Marielle Franco; Politician Denies Connection

[Judi Lynn]

05/10/2018 - 10H01


Ouvir o texto
LUCAS VETTORAZZO
BERNARDO TABAK
FROM RIO DE JANEIRO

On Wednesday, May 9, Rio de Janeiro City Councilor Marcello Siciliano (PHS) denied the accusation that he had ordered the targeted killing of another city councilor, Marielle Franco (PSOL) - Franco was murdered on March 14.

Newspaper O Globo says that a witness, who gave three testimonies to the police in exchange for protection, worked for a paramilitary group and gave detailed information on dates, schedules and meeting places where Siciliano and Orlando Oliveira de Araújo (a former police officer, currently arrested after accusations of leading a militia group) allegedly planned the crime.



Portrait of Councilor Marielle Franco in Sao Paulo

The newspaper said that the witness also stated he saw four conversations between Siciliano and Araújo (at the time, the latter was a fugitive) and named four men allegedly chosen to kill Marielle Franco.

The witness also said that Franco's political incursions into Cidade de Deus, a major slum in the city's west zone out of militia control, sparked the actions by Siciliano and Araújo.

More:
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2018/05/1968050-witness-accuses-city-councilor-in-murder-of-marielle-franco-politician-denies-connection.shtml

[Judi Lynn]

1. Rio councilwoman's murder may be linked to colleague, probe finds - sources

WORLD NEWS MAY 9, 2018 / 1:51 PM / 2 DAYS AGO
Rodrigo Viga Gaier
4 MIN READ

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian authorities investigating the assassination of a Rio de Janeiro councilwoman are closing in on suspects, including a fellow councilman accused of links to paramilitary militias, two sources with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters on Wednesday.

Marielle Franco, an outspoken critic of the militias that control many impoverished areas of Brazil’s second-largest city, was shot four times in the head in March as she rode in a car in central Rio. Her driver was also killed.

The killing sparked major protests in Brazil and demands that her murder be solved quickly. As a rare black politician who came from a poor background, she was seen by many of Rio’s impoverished as a hope that their voices would increasingly be heard.

O Globo newspaper reported on Tuesday night that in relation to Franco’s murder police were investigating councilman Marcello Siciliano, whose political stronghold is an area in western Rio controlled by militias.

. . .

Militias, formed by former and current police officers, firefighters, prison guards and even members of the military, have rapidly expanded in the past decade.

They control black-market transport, water and cooking gas sales, extort small businesses for “protection” and are increasingly involved in the drug trade, among other illegal activities.

More:
https://in.reuters.com/article/brazil-violence/rio-councilwomans-murder-may-be-linked-to-colleague-probe-finds-sources-idINKBN1IA31T

Who benefits when an advocate for the poor vast majority mass of suffering Brazilians is assassinated?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Brasil: Alexandre Pereira, witness to the assassination of Marielle Franco, murdered under suspiciou

Brasil: Alexandre Pereira, witness to the assassination of Marielle Franco, murdered under suspicious circumstances
Source: Resumen Latinoamericano / The Dawn News / April 9, 2018

Alexandre Pereira Maria, 37, testified as a witness for the death of the councilor, sociologist and activist Marielle Franco.

. . .

Pereira was an advisor to councilwoman Marcello Siciliano and last week he testified as a witness for the murder of Marielle Franco and Anderson Gomes, the driver of the council woman’s car. He was also a community leader who identified the needs of the inhabitants of the area and helped bring their demands to the parliamentarian.

A team from the Homicide Squad of the city started an investigation on the site and is currently investigating the circumstances of the death. As it was reported, Alejandro’s body was transferred to the Medical Legal Institute where he will be examined.

The crime occurred around 8:45 pm local. According to the witnesses, prior to his execution, one of the assassins of the former official shouted “this one has to shut his mouth”.

More:
http://www.thedawn-news.org/2018/04/10/brasil-alexandre-pereira-witness-to-the-assassination-of-marielle-franco-murdered-under-suspicious-circumstances/