The Supreme Federal Court (STF) of Brazil is starting proceedings against a trio accused of orchestrating the murder of Marielle Franco, a prominent councilwoman and activist. The defendants, including former congressman Chiquinho Brazão and his brother Domingos, have been in custody since March 2024, but their claims of innocence persist as they assert that the evidence against them is insufficient. Despite previous confessions from an ex-police officer, Ronnie Lessa, who admitted to murdering Franco, there are significant gaps in the case, particularly concerning corroborating evidence linking the accused to the crime.

Central to the proceedings is the lack of direct evidence that would tie respectively Brazão and his brother, alongside former police chief Rivaldo Barbosa, to the planning of Franco's murder. The testimony from Lessa, while incriminating, did not provide enough substantiation of connections between him and the accused, nor did it illustrate meetings or discussions about the murder plot that involved third parties. Without such evidence, the complexities involving the testimonies and the background of the accused present challenges for the prosecution.

The ongoing legal battles highlight not only the significant issues of political violence in Brazil but also the systemic obstacles faced by the judicial system in dealing with cases of high-profile assassinations where political motives are suspected. The struggles to obtain conclusive evidence have led to concerns about accountability and justice for Franco, whose murder in 2018 sparked widespread outrage and calls for action against violence towards politicians, particularly those advocating for marginalized groups in Brazil.