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Article: 5 Cubans sentenced on spy-related charges to get new trial.
- Article from:
- Chicago Tribune (Chicago, IL)
- Article date:
- August 9, 2005
- Author:
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Byline: Gary Marx
HAVANA _ In a startling setback for prosecutors in a politically charged case, a U.S. appeals court Tuesday overturned the convictions of five Cubans sentenced in 2001 to long prison terms on spy-related charges.
In a unanimous decision, a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled that the five Cubans were unfairly tried in Miami because of community prejudice, extensive media coverage and prosecutors' inflammatory remarks.
Although none of the jurors was Cuban-American, defense attorneys argued that Miami's anti-Castro atmosphere ensured their clients would be railroaded into prison ...