Judge postpones hearing for suspects in Haitian president's slaying who were hoping to be released

In Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on Monday, January 14, 2025, a hearing was postponed for nineteen suspects connected to the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. These suspects include 17 former Colombian soldiers and two Haitians, who were hoping for release during the hearing. The Colombian suspects have been detained amid increased gang violence that has resulted in the shutdown of the Court of Appeals in downtown Port-au-Prince. They waited for significant hours at a private residence before a judge ordered the postponement of their case for unspecified reasons to later this month. Defense attorney Nathalie Delisca expressed disappointment that they were unable to secure the release of her clients, asserting their innocence and claiming they had no involvement in the crime. She refrained from divulging their current location, which is reportedly secure compared to previous conditions at the National Penitentiary. Gangs raided major prisons in Haiti nearly a year ago, which led to the release of thousands of inmates. Amidst this chaos, Delisca stated that her clients did not attempt to escape because they maintain their innocence. Despite the horrific prison conditions previously reported, the detained Colombians that attended the hearing were said to be in good health. Further complicating the case, Joseph Badio, a notable figure linked to the Moïse assassination, was present at the hearing as well. Badio, who previously worked within the Haitian Ministry of Justice and the anti-corruption unit before his dismissal due to ethics violations, was arrested in October 2023. Details regarding his health condition remain unclear, but he was assisted by former Jacmel mayor Macky Kessa while leaving the courthouse. Although proceedings in Haiti are stagnant, U.S. authorities have actively charged several others involved in the plot. In December 2023, a Miami judge sentenced former Haitian senator John Joel Joseph to life imprisonment for his role in the assassination conspiracy, along with additional sentences for others connected. The case overall now involves over 40 individuals arrested for their respective roles in the assassination of Jovenel Moïse, shot at least a dozen times at his private residence, igniting a significant political crisis in Haiti. As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen how the judicial process will unfold for those Nation suspects, as their trials remain pending.