The former president’s appeal is framed within the 120-day period due to him by law after the reading of Judge Kevin Castel’s sentence on June 26.
On June 26, the former leader of Honduras was sentenced to 45 years in prison for links to drug trafficking.
The defense of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez filed a brief on Tuesday in the Southern District Court of New York for appeal to his 45-year prison sentence for drug trafficking.
The news was released Wednesday by journalist Matthew Russel Lee, through his X-size account (formerly Twitter) Inner City Press. The document released by the American journalist notes that the request was received on 9 July.
The former president’s appeal is framed within the 120-day period due to him by law after the reading of Judge Kevin Castel’s sentence on June 26.
However, for criminal lawyer Héctor Pérez, for the appeal to be declared in place by Judge Castel “it is necessary that there be new evidence, new witnesses and new evidentiary methods that help prove the innocence of Juan Orlando Hernández.”
Peréz further explained that Hernandez’s defense was “ridiculous” because he could not prove his innocence and assured that the appeal will be declared “without place.”
Judgment
Hernandez was sentenced on June 26 in the Southern District Court of New York to 45 years in prison and five years of conditional release for three crimes linked to drug trafficking.
These crimes are conspiracy to deal with drug trafficking, conspiracy to use weapons and the use and carrying of firearms.
Juan Orlando Hernández was president of Honduras for two consecutive terms, between 2014 and 2022.
He was extradited to the United States on April 20, 2022 and found guilty by a jury on drug trafficking charges on March 8, 2024.
This article has been translated after first appearing in Tunota