July 3, 2007
Reprinted from BBC World Service
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Gerardo Hernández in Victorville prison |
In 1998, Cuban citizens Ruben Campa, Rene Gonzalez, Gerardo Hernandez, Luis Medina and Antonio Guerrero were arrested in Florida.
They were tried and convicted of using false identification, espionage and conspiracy to commit murder.
All five were convicted in December 2001 and awarded sentences ranging from 15 years to a double life sentence.
The five have always claimed they were protecting the people of Cuba from assasination attempts and terrorist plots by anti-Castro exiles living in Miami. However, the U.S prosecution claimed their actions were unlawful and the men subsequently made a series of appeals to try and overturn the decision.
A new hearing is scheduled for August in Atlanta, Georgia where three appeal judges will decide whether to overturn their conviction and grant a re-trial.
In the first ever media interview given by any of the prisoners Newshour’s Claire Bolderson spoke to Gerardo Hernandez from his maximum security prison in Victorville, California.
First broadcast 2nd July
Listen to the 10-minute edited version of the interview here (includes several minutes with spokesperson from CANF) (mp3)
Listen to the 16-minute raw audio (the complete interview with Gerardo) here (mp3)