Juan Orlando Hernández, former president of Honduras, was praying this Friday when the 12 members of the jury entered the room to read the verdict.
In the hands of that group of American citizens was a historic decision: the fate of a former Latin American president. After 12 hearings in which they heard, among other witnesses, former drug traffickers directly state that they paid bribes to Hernández and his entourage, the members of the jury deliberated for nine hours, a little more than a day. They had a unanimous decision.
Amid the private conversations inside the courtroom in New York, there was barely a hint about what they were analyzing and where the balance might be tipping.
On Thursday the jurors asked the judge to review the testimony of Brigadier General Tulio Romero Palacios, and a fragment of Hernández’s own statement on the stand.
Without realizing it or without being able to avoid it under oath, the former president contradicted the first witness called by his own defense, when he stated that he had not provided security for his brother, Tony Hernández, sentenced in 2021 by the US justice system to prison. life for drug trafficking. Previously, the general who was in charge of the presidential escort had declared on the stand that security was provided to the president, his wife, his children, his mother, two sisters and Tony.
Hernández’s lawyer, Raymond Colón, was asked if that detail could have influenced the verdict, and he responded: “It is possible. What you never know is what the jury is going to emphasize.”
Peak moment Around 1:30 pm the parties were informed that there was a verdict.
Hernández and his lawyers sat silently at the same table they occupied throughout the trial. There wasn’t much to talk about, just wait.
And pray.
The former president had his hands clasped, his head resting on them, waiting for a declaration of innocence that never came.
The judge asked the bailiffs to usher in the jury. Security in the room was reinforced and the public was warned to avoid reactions or interrupting the process.
When the judge’s assistant asked about the first charge, conspiracy to import cocaine into the United States, the defendant looked up.
“Guilty,” said the foreman of the jury.
Hernandez lowered his head again. He looked up to hear the decision on the second charge, conspiracy to possess firearms and destructive devices for drug trafficking.
“Guilty,” he heard again.
He lowered his head and did not raise it for the reading of the third charge, possession of that type of weapon during the drug trafficking conspiracy. He just shook his head, not looking at anyone. His fate was already cast.
When he was removed, he managed to say goodbye to two of the family members who accompanied him during the process and who were nearby.
-I am innocent, tell the world. “I love you very much,” she said.
The two women left with tears in their eyes, without giving statements.
The disappointment was reflected on the faces of the lawyers, who failed to establish reasonable doubt among the members of the jury.
Defender Raymond Colón confirmed to CNN that he will appeal the decision and added that Hernández “remains strong, although he is disappointed.”
“It’s sad, a tragedy, such a noble man,” he commented.
Regarding the decision for Hernández to testify at the trial, he said that it was a scenario that was discussed for a long time, taking into account the risk of exposing himself to cross-examination by the Prosecutor’s Office, which ultimately resulted in a contradiction.
“But he wanted to tell the Honduran people and the jury what he did. I think he stated very well. But (the jurors) decided to take the government’s testimonies,” Colón said.
The lawyers asked to speak to the jury to find out why they determined guilt. According to Colón, they did not analyze all the evidence during the two days of deliberations. “I think it is impossible, it is a case that has been going on for almost 10 years. The case presented by the Prosecutor’s Office was weak. The witnesses they presented were basically psychopaths and murderers,” he commented.
Celebrations and lamentations Outside the court, some Hondurans who were gathered vigil awaiting the decision celebrated the verdict.
The atmosphere since Thursday had a lot of emotional charge. Hernández’s lawyers even asked the judge to remind the jury that they should not take into account what they saw on the street.
The installed mural bore faces of victims of violence in Honduras, placed by their relatives. An altar with candles was also surrounded by banners calling for justice and “no mercy for narcopoliticians.” Also, a prisoner suit with a number with which the US authorities identify Hernández.
When the news arrived, there were hugs, shouts of joy and tears of emotion, among chants of “justice, justice.” The Honduran national anthem played and flags waved.
But there was also a minority who said they were sad and disappointed. Among other things, they highlighted that no physical evidence was presented in the process, and that they had hoped to see concrete evidence of the accusations beyond the testimonies of the former drug traffickers.
In the process, the Prosecutor’s Office did not present videos or audios. It did display images of Hernández alongside drug traffickers, although the defense stressed that they were taken at public events.
Hernández, who governed Honduras between 2014 and 2022, will have his sentencing hearing on June 26, according to the Department of Justice.
The former president now faces a possible life sentence, after being found guilty of the three charges of drug trafficking and weapons.
