Former judge Melody González from Villa Clara, currently detained at the Broward Transitional Center in Pompano Beach, Florida, has called for the release of the four young men she sentenced for alleged assault in Cuba. In an exclusive interview with Diario de Cuba from her place of detention, González stated that the young men—Andy Gabriel González Fuentes, Adain Barreiro Pérez, Eddy Daniel Rodríguez Milián, and Luis Ernesto Medina Pedraza—did not receive a fair trial.
González claimed that the preliminary investigations were insufficient and that during the trial, a thorough examination of the evidence presented by the defense was not allowed. "I'm not saying this to save face or to look good; I genuinely believe they should be free, and I have many reasons to support this. They did not receive the due process that is so often talked about in the Cuban Constitution and laws," said González, who arrived in the United States with a Humanitarian Parole but was denied entry due to being listed as a repressor.
"Whether they are innocent or guilty, only God and they know," she remarked in her interview with the media outlet. "But the process against them was not fair. Despite the protests against me, I firmly believe they deserve to be free. They have suffered enough."
The former judge also revealed the constant pressure exerted by the Communist Party of Cuba on the judicial system, describing how judges' decisions are manipulated and how they are required to impose sentences without real independence or authority.
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights has expressed its support for González's demand, calling for the overturning of the sentences given the revelations about the lack of procedural guarantees in this case.
Since her detention in the United States, Melody González has continued to advocate for a more equitable and transparent justice system in Cuba.
Call for Political Asylum
González sentenced the young men, all under 30, to prison terms after they threw Molotov cocktails at the homes of police chiefs and regime officials in the municipality of Encrucijada on November 18, 2022. She imposed four-year prison sentences on Andy Gabriel González Fuentes, Eddy Daniel Rodríguez Pérez, and Luis Ernesto Medina Pedraza, while Adain Barreiro Pérez received a three-year sentence. All were convicted of assault.
Now seeking political asylum, González has expressed difficulty in finding legal representation. "When I came to this country, I thought I had arrived at freedom and that I could shout about all I had endured and suffered. I never imagined I would be handcuffed and treated like a vile criminal. The first days of my detention were terrible. I was subjected to oppression that I never allowed to happen to any detainee in my 18-year career," she told Diario de Cuba.
"It has been the most humiliating experience of my life," she emphasized.
On June 12, Melody González Pedraza attended her first asylum hearing in the United States. Her next hearing is scheduled for July 31. She has little hope of being released, as she has not been informed of the charges against her and has been unable to present her asylum documents.
FAQs on Melody González's Case and Asylum Process
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding the case of Melody González and her ongoing asylum process in the United States.
Why is Melody González detained in the United States?
Melody González is detained because she was denied entry to the United States despite arriving with a Humanitarian Parole. She is listed as a repressor by U.S. authorities.
What are the charges against the young men she sentenced in Cuba?
The young men were charged with assault for throwing Molotov cocktails at the homes of police chiefs and regime officials in Encrucijada.
What is the Cuban Observatory of Human Rights' stance on this issue?
The Cuban Observatory of Human Rights supports Melody González's demand for the release of the young men, citing a lack of procedural guarantees in their trials.