While Pablo Casellas Toro, son of a notorious Puerto Rican judge, awaited the sentence for the murder of his wife Carmen Paredes he was still claiming he was innocent by stating, “Let me make clear that this conviction and sentence are an injustice because I did not kill my wife Carmen. The prosecution and the police caused this injustice, because from the first day focused on me and ruled out all other possible suspects, particularly four others after the process that I heard had the motivation and opportunity may have killed Carmen.” His family members and the victim’s family members were not present to listen to the verdict.
This was the first time he had been inside the court room since this whole judicial process started. The sentence was witnessed by the whole island as it was televised and everybody in Puerto Rico was anxious to find out what the verdict would be after a long trial. He was sentenced to 109 years in prison. Ten years for violation of gun laws, 99 years for first degree murder, one year and nine months for destruction of evidence and 90 days for a misdemeanor. He faces federal charges as well for faking a carjacking and he has to face the Federal jury. If he is found guilty at that level, he would face five more years of prison. He looks deteriorated and not physically well. During this whole process he has had several health issues and psychological issues as well.
Us Puerto Ricans were surprised in a way because well known, wealthy people usually get their way. Also politics play a big part in how the jury functions and what sides they take. Justice has finally been made and the victim’s family can rest and finally sleep at night knowing that the man that committed the crime is finally behind bars. There is always an exception, knowing that some people are not surprised and knew that he had killed his wife since the day he actually committed the crime despite the lying and deceiving.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
