STF minister defended opening criminal proceedings for obstructing murder investigations
Minister Alexandre de Moraes, of the (Supreme Federal Court), voted this Friday (May 15, 2026) to make defendants 3 accused of hindering the investigations into the murder of the councilwoman and the driver Anderson Gomes. The crime was carried out in 2018, in Rio de Janeiro.
The vote of the minister, who is the rapporteur of the case, was given in the virtual complaint filed by the PGR (Attorney General’s Office) against the former head of the Civil Police of Rio Rivaldo Barbosa, the delegate Giniton Lages and the police commissioner Marco Antonio de Barros.
According to the prosecutor’s office, the accused committed acts to eliminate evidence, incriminated innocent people, used false witnesses and took unnecessary steps to “guarantee impunity” of those who ordered and carried out the murder.
On February 25, 2026, Rivaldo and other defendants, accused of being the masterminds, were convicted of the murder of the councilor. voted to open criminal proceedings against those accused.
“There is minimal evidence of authorship and materiality that Rivaldo Barbosa, in collusion with Giniton Lages and Marco Antônio de Barros, obstructed, through improper action and omission, the investigations related to the aforementioned homicides”he stated.
Virtual voting is carried out by and will remain open until May 22nd.
DEFENSES
Before the trial, the defense asked for the complaint to be rejected due to lack of evidence and said that the former head of the Rio Civil Police was accused based on inferences.
Giniton’s lawyers stated that he does not have privileged jurisdiction and cannot be tried by the Supreme Court.
Marco Antonio de Barros’ defense stated that no evidence was produced and that the police’s work resulted in the arrest of Ronnie Lessa, the whistleblower and perpetrator of the crime.
This text was originally published by, on May 15, 2026, at 5:59 pm. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the standard of Poder360.
