Haiti president's widow testifies in U.S. trial of assassination plotters

Martine Moïse, widow of Haiti's assassinated president, testified Tuesday in Federal District Court in Miami as the trial began for four men charged with plotting her husband's murder nearly five years ago.

Ms. Moïse, 51, struggled with her emotions as she took the stand to describe the night in July 2021 when armed men stormed their residence, killed President Jovenel Moïse and seriously wounded her. "Please forgive me," she said, breaking down moments after beginning her testimony. Using the name she called her husband of 25 years, she added: "I promised Jo I would never cry again. I have been waiting so long."

Dressed in a black jacket, blouse and skirt, Ms. Moïse began recounting the events that threw Haiti into deeper turmoil.

The trial involves four defendants: Arcangel Pretel Ortíz, Antonio Intriago, Walter Veintemilla and James Solages. They are charged with conspiring in south Florida to kidnap or kill Haiti's former leader.

During opening statements Tuesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean McLaughlin told the jury that the case was straightforward: the four men wanted to seize power and get rich. "So arrogant and confident in themselves, the evidence will show, and thinking so little of the Republic of Haiti and its people, they actually thought they could pull it off," McLaughlin said.

Federal prosecutors characterized greed, arrogance and power as the driving forces behind the assassination. The killing of Moïse, Haiti's last elected president, led to unprecedented turmoil in the Caribbean nation, where gang leaders have grown increasingly violent and empowered.

Defense attorneys also presented opening statements as the trial proceeded Tuesday in Miami.