Marielle case: Junkyard owner sentenced for dumping car used in murder
Rio de Janeiro's 37th Criminal Court sentenced Edilson Barbosa dos Santos, known as Orelha, to five years in prison and a fine of 17 days. Santos, the owner of the junkyard that received, dismantled, and disposed of the Cobalt car used in the double murder of councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver, Anderson Gomes, on March 14, 2018.
The state prosecutor's office indicted Santos in August 2023 for obstruction of justice. The complaint alleges that the junkyard owner hindered investigations into crimes involving an organized criminal group, significantly undermining the administration of justice, and consequently, obstructing the pursuit of the truth.
According to the Public Prosecutor's Office, two days after the crime, on March 16, Ronnie Lessa and Elcio Vieira de Queiroz—identified as the shooter and driver in the double homicide—turned over the vehicle to the accused in a square in Rio's northern zone.
Prosecutor Fabíola Tardin Costa, who represented the Public Prosecutor's Office throughout the criminal proceedings, noted that the defendant's conduct is not uncommon in the militia world. “Statistics indicate that approximately 90 percent of executions carried out by the militia in Rio de Janeiro involve this modus operandi—using a vehicle, whether a motorcycle or a car—due to the quick escape it facilitates. Thus, ensuring that the vehicle is never located again is an important factor for the success of the operation,” Costa explained.
