Haiti - Justice : Verdict in the trial of Les Cayes
20/01/2012 14:06:07

Following the verdict in the trial of Les Cayes http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-4766-haiti-justice-verdict-in-the-trial-of-les-cayes.html t he Prime Minister Garry Conille declared on behalf of the Haitian government "My Government welcomes the dynamism of the Haitian Justice in the trial of 13 police officers in Les Cayes.

This reflects the will of the Haitian State, through its justice system, to guarantee to the litigants a free and fair trial [...] The trial of the police officers in Les Cayes also reflects the Government's determination to protect and strengthen the independence of the judicial authority mandated by the Constitution of the Republic to enforce the law, without any form of political interference" adding "...
the Government that I lead will continue to make every effort to preserve the independence of the judiciary and contribute to give back to the Justice its brand image in order to strengthen the confidence of our fellow citizens in the justice of our country."

For its part the U.S. Embassy in Haiti has declared "...We commend the verdict handed down yesterday in Les Cayes, which marks a significant step forward in the Haitian judicial system’s stance against impunity and demonstrates a renewed commitment for the respect of human rights, the rule of law, and accountability" adding "reinforcing the rule of law and combating impunity are essential to a better future for Haiti and the United States will continue to support Haitian efforts in these critical areas.

"Yesterday Thursday, after the trial opened on October 18, 2011, against 13 Haitians police officers and officials of the prison services, judged for the deaths of at least 11 inmates after the riot that broke, on January 19, 2010, in the prison of Les Cayes, where over 400 prisoners, terrified by the aftershocks, tried to escape, the Judge Ézékiel Vaval has sentenced 7 police officers to sentences of imprisonment ranging from 2 to 13 years of hard labor, the accused risked life imprisonment.
The judge Vaval also concluded to the innocence of six other police officers.
In addition 21 other officers who fled will be tried in absentia.

"The decision of the judge is his expression of the truth. There are other versions that exist but this is mine. And that is the law" declared the judge Vaval during its delivery.

At trial the defense lawyers had argued that the police officers had tried to stop a riot in a difficult circumstances, ignoring from where the shots came, and asserting that some victims may have been killed by other inmates.

se pa pou pran yon ka pou defann system jidusyè ayisyen fok ou pran tou ka kote moun ap pije nan prison san ke yo pa janm paret devan jij yo.