A Miami Dade judge sentenced Mexican actor Pablo Lyle this Friday to five years in prison and eight probation, in addition to attending anger control and community work classes.
The prosecution aspired to a sentence between 9 and 15 years in prison. The actor was found guilty by a jury last October.
Lyle, 36, was charged with involuntary manslaughter for the incident, classified as anger at the helm, which occurred in March 2019. He punched a 63-year-old Cuban man, Juan Ricardo Hernández, killing him.
The incident occurred when the actor was heading to the airport in the company of his family. At an intersection, Lyle’s brother-in-law apparently made a wrong move that upset Hernandez. The Cuban got out of his car, hit the window, the Mexican got out of his car and hit Hernández in the face, who fell to the ground, hit his head and died four days later.
Although Judge Marisa Tinkler was generous, an earlier statement from her had some heralding a stronger sentence. “He will have to be held accountable for this. Mr. Lyle to take your time to understand what was aired in this court. Mr. Lyle’s life is not over. Mr. Hernández’s life has been lost, ”she stressed.
During the first part of the hearing, the judge listened to relatives of Lyle talking about their behavior as part of the family and how Hernández’s death had affected them. “He is a good man,” said his sister, visibly moved.
They referred to the fact as an unfortunate incident that turned into a tragedy for the two families.
His wife, Ana Araujo, also spoke, who referred to Lyle’s reaction when she found out that Mr. Hernández had passed away. “He spent the day throwing up, crying, couldn’t sleep,” she said.
The wife referred to Lyle as a “heart on legs”, of which she said she was proud. She pointed out the remorse she felt for what had happened. At the hearing, the actor apologized to the Hernández family and with tears in his eyes, he stated: “I only thought that I was protecting my family.”
But Juan Ricardo Hernández Jr., the victim’s son, asked that “justice be done and that the maximum sentence be imposed. I was with my father the night before, now no more“.
For her part, Mercedes Arce, the victim’s partner, said that she had had a four-year relationship with Hernández, whom she met at her workplace, the Miami airport.
“We were going to get married the week the tragedy occurred. Everything was prepared ”, she recalled. Since then, he added, his health has deteriorated since the death of his partner, he has to receive psychological and psychiatric treatment.
“When I have to go to the doctor or something, I’m afraid to go out,” he said.
In his testimony, Arce said he knew that it was not his intention [de Lyle] kill him, but actions have consequences. I hope that God gives us strength to bear this pain.”
And he ended by saying: “I ask that he be given the maximum.”
