5 sentenced in failed hijacking
Four Cuban soldiers and a civilian were spared the death penalty for killing a soldier and an officer in a rampage that ended with a botched attempt to hijack a plane to the United States, a leading rights activist said.
Sgts. Yoan Torres and Leandro Cerezo got life sentences, and Sgt. Karel de Miranda Rubio, was sentenced to 30 years by a secret military tribunal. Capt. Alain Forbus received a 25-year prison term, and a civilian, Ridel Leseaylle Veloz, was sentenced to 15 years.
The soldiers killed another soldier while escaping from their base April 29.
Four days later, they attempted to hijack a plane, and a shootout left an army lieutenant colonel dead.
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