Press Conference to Discuss important Developments in Cuban Five appeals.

 

"Gerardo Hernández - for the first time in his own words - gives irrefutable evidence of his innocence." - Attorney Richard Klugh

There was "a distinct, fundamental violation of the premises of a fair trial where the government secretly paid highly influential journalists."
     - from the Memorandum of Antonio Guerrero

Two of the Cuban Five, Antonio Guerrero and Gerardo Hernández, have just filed important legal briefs in their "habeas corpus" appeals, their final legal opportunity to obtain a new trial and overturn their unjust convictions.
On Tuesday, March 22, at 12 noon (Eastern), the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five will conduct a call-in press conference at which lawyers involved with the appeals and others involved with the case will speak. The press conference will be recorded, and will be online at www.freethefive.org shortly after the conclusion of the conference.

Hernández’s affidavit was filed today, March 21. Hernández, who is serving life without parole -- for the false conviction in the matter of the shootdown of two planes from the Brothers to the Rescue organization, in which he had no role -- explains for the first time, in his own words, his complete innocence.

In the affidavit, Hernández explains to the District Court judge Joan Lenard, that had he known he could have had a separate trial on the ’murder conspiracy’ charge, he would have testified on his own behalf. Hernandez lists in details the facts of his innocence, which he was unable to present at trial. Cuban Five attorney Richard Klugh will speak to these issues in the Conference and answer questions regarding same.

The press conference will discuss "compelling and irrefutable facts that we believe would exonerate Gerardo Hernández completely," said Richard Klugh.

Gloria La Riva of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five on the importance of Hernandez’s affidavit beyond the legal process: "It is essential that the public be made aware of it as well, including the thousands of active supporters of the Five around the world, and important political figures and the media. Most importantly, we demand that the Obama administration immediately free the Cuban Five."

 

Guerrero’s appeal, as well as that of Hernández and the upcoming appeal of Ramón Labañino, focuses on newly uncovered evidence of extensive payments from the U.S. government to Miami journalists covering the trial of the Five, evidence which was uncovered in part through Freedom of Information Act requests filed by the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five.