A man is convicted of murdering prominent Rio de Janeiro city councilor Marielle Franco

RIO DE JANEIRO – A judge has sentenced a man to five years in prison for obstructing the investigation into the murder of Rio de Janeiro city councilor Marielle Franco.

The sentencing of Edilson Barbosa dos Santos was the first since the 2018 shooting of Franco, who was prominent as the only black woman on the council and as a bisexual. Dos Santos was accused of dismantling a car used in the drive-by shooting, and his sentence was announced Monday by the state court in Rio de Janeiro.

Former police officer Ronnie Lessa has confessed to killing Franco as part of a trial but has not yet been convicted.

In March, federal deputy Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos Brazão, a member of the Rio State Audit Office, were arrested on suspicion of ordering Franco’s assassination. Both are said to have connections to criminal groups, so-called militias, which illegally demand various services from residents.

Both have denied any wrongdoing in the case.