Tuesday, December 19, 2023, former senator Joseph Joel John (52 years old), after the federal judge asked him if he wished to make a statement before the announcement of the verdict of his sentence, declared "It turned out that the plan got overwhelmed, out of hand [...] and they decided to kill the President instead of kidnapping him [...] but it was never my intention [...]"

He explained that when the other conspirators made the decision to assassinate the President and no longer kidnap him, he could not back down for fear of being killed, imploring the judge (in French), apologizing to those close to him of the President and to the Haitians for "this heinous crime which should not have taken place."

His lawyer, Brian Kirlew, said the fact that he participated in the plot does not mean he accepted the killing, even though he himself pleaded guilty to the charges.

Arguments that did not move federal judge José E. Martínez who responded to the accused "[...] Whether you attempted or not the assassination, you enter into dangerous territory", which, in a hearing of approximately 30 minutes, sentenced Joseph Joel John to life imprisonment for his role in the plot that led to the assassination of the President of Haiti Jovenel Moïse, in his residence, on July 7, 2021 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34162-haiti-flash-president-jovenel-moise-assassinated-by-mercenaries-official-updated-7am-+-video.html

Let's remember that the Senator had recognized on October 10 https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40706-haiti-flash-former-senator-john-pleads-guilty-to-participation-in-the-assassination-of-jovenel-moise.html having admitted to having "knowingly conspired" to provide vehicles and met on several occasions with the other conspirators, in Haiti and Florida, according to the agreement to plead guilty that he signed in October with the prosecution in the hope of obtaining a reduction in his sentence. In exchange, he promised to cooperate with the investigation.

In the United States, prosecutors often recommend that judges reduce sentences, particularly when convicted persons collaborate with authorities. However, judges are not required to grant these requests. However, the sentence reduction could occur months or years after sentencing.

Former Senator John Joel Joseph is the third of 11 suspects arrested and charged in Miami to be sentenced to life after The other two sentenced in this case are the Haitian-Chilean businessman Rodolphe Jaar and the Colombian military officer in retired Germán Alejandro Rivera García. Both were sentenced to life in prison. Another defendant, Joseph Vincent, a former DEA informant who pleaded guilty in December, will be sentenced in February 2024.

See also about former Senator Joseph Joël John :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-40706-haiti-flash-former-senator-john-pleads-guilty-to-participation-in-the-assassination-of-jovenel-moise.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36497-haiti-flash-jamaica-authorizes-the-extradition-to-the-usa-of-former-senator-joseph-in-the-case-of-the-assassination-of-the-president.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36629-haiti-justice-assassination-president-a-third-suspect-appeared-in-federal-court.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36259-haiti-assassination-of-the-president-towards-the-extradition-to-the-usa-of-former-senator-joseph-joel-john.html

https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-36117-icihaiti-justice-former-senator-joseph-tries-to-obtain-asylum-in-jamaica.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35724-haiti-flash-assassination-of-the-president-former-senator-john-joel-joseph-arrested-in-jamaica.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34225-haiti-notice-the-pnh-is-looking-for-3-dangerous-and-armed-individuals-including-a-former-senator.html

SL/ HaitiLibre