Fiona Nimoni,in Londonand

Ione Wells,in São Paulo, Brazil

Brazil's Supreme Court has voted to convict two politicians of ordering the murder of the prominent Rio de Janeiro councillor and activist, Marielle Franco.

Brothers Domingos Inácio Brazão and João Francisco Inácio Brazão were sentenced to more than 76 years each for masterminding the drive-by shooting that killed Franco alongside her driver Anderson Gomes in 2018.

Franco, a gay black woman, was an emerging figure in Brazil's socialist party, with her death at the age of 38 sparking nationwide protests.

Four justices concluded unanimously that the Brazão brothers targeted Franco because she was considered a threat to their interests.

Franco had worked with Rio de Janeiro's city council to oppose housing developments in poorer neighbourhoods that were a source of income for militia groups.

The case exposed links between politicians and organised crime.

The brothers "didn't just have contact with the militia. They were the militia," Judge Alexandre de Moraes said.

The only woman on the Supreme Court, Carmen Lucia, said the process had caused her "great spiritual and psychological harm", asking how many more "Marielles will Brazil allow to be murdered?"

In a post on Instagram, Franco's sister Anielle Franco - who serves as minister for racial equality - paid tribute to Brazil's judicial system, saying it had "honoured the memory of Marielle and Anderson".

She added: "It has been eight years of struggle to find out who ordered Marielle's murder and why. Eight years of fighting for full justice.

"Brazil begins a new historic chapter in confronting political violence based on gender and race. Impunity cannot be part of our democracy."

In 2024, two former police officers were jailed in 2024 over Marielle's murder. Ronnie Lessa confessed to firing the shots and was sentenced to 78 years and nine months, while Élcio de Queiroz received 59 years and eight months for being behind the wheel.

The Brazao brothers were arrested in 2024 after Lessa named them as the masterminds behind the murders as part of a plea deal with prosecutors.