U.S. Supreme Court won't review 'Cuban Five' spy convictions
WASHINGTON -- (AP) -- The Supreme Court on Monday refused to review the
convictions of five Cuban intelligence agents who say they did not
receive a fair trial because of strong anti-Castro sentiment in Miami.
The justices left in place the convictions of the so-called ''Cuban
Five,'' despite calls from Nobel Prize winners and international legal
groups to review the case.
The five -- Ramón Labañino, Antonio Guerrero, Fernando González, Rene
Gonzalez and Gerardo Hernandez -- were convicted on charges of acting as
unregistered Cuban agents in the United States and of espionage
conspiracy for attempting to penetrate U.S. military bases.
Hernandez was also convicted of murder conspiracy in the deaths of four
Miami-based pilots whose planes, part of the Brothers to the Rescue
organization, were shot down by Cuban fighter jets in 1996 off the
island's coast.
The five have been lionized as heroes in Cuba, while exile groups say
they were justly punished.
Ten Nobel Prize winners and lawyers and legal groups from more than a
dozen countries urged the high court to step into the case.
The Obama administration contended that the convictions were fairly won,
and that a high court review was unnecessary.
A three-judge panel of the federal appeals court in Atlanta initially
reversed the convictions, agreeing with the defendants that the trial
should have been moved from Miami.
But the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the convictions.
Hernandez is serving a life sentence, while Gonzalez is serving a prison
term of 15 years.
The appeals court ordered new sentences for the other three men,
including two who originally were given life in prison.
U.S. Supreme Court won't review 'Cuban Five' spy convictions - Breaking
News - MiamiHerald.com (15 June 2009)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1098026.html
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