The individual responsible for the brutal murder of a Cuban family on a farm in Matanzas in May 2023 has been given a life sentence, according to official reports. The conviction of Víctor Luis Hozman Reyes, the perpetrator of the horrific crime that claimed the lives of Maykel González Medina, Linet Lucía Medina, and their seven-year-old son, was announced during the evening broadcast of the National Television News. However, the report has yet to be circulated on social media.
A screenshot from the broadcast, shared on Facebook by journalist Henry Omar Pérez, reveals that after an appeal process, Hozman Reyes was sentenced by a court to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of the father, mother, and their young child on May 19, 2023, at the El Resplandor farm. This atrocity deeply shocked the local community in Matanzas and Cubans at large.
"Let the full weight of the law fall upon him!" Pérez exclaimed in his post, though he also expressed his personal view on the sentence: "Honestly, the death penalty is what someone who disrespected the lives of so many deserves." Many online commentators echoed his sentiment.
Hozman Reyes, a former reserve soldier of the Armed Forces, was a neighbor and friend of the family he slaughtered with a machete, as sources close to the victims reported. He owned a mechanic shop, similar to Maykel's, whom he killed to steal cash and valuables from his home, including jewelry that he reportedly flaunted just hours after the savage killings.
Two days after the appalling incident, the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) confirmed Hozman Reyes's arrest at Jibacoa Beach in the Mayabeque province as he attempted to flee the country, though they did not disclose his identity at that time. Authorities stated that items linked him to the heinous crime from the outset.
The trial for the accused was reportedly scheduled to commence on July 2, 2024, at the Provincial Court of Matanzas, as announced earlier by Maykel’s sister, Adamarys González. She demanded "a heavy hand against this murderer who deserves nothing in this life" and wished that "the full weight of the law, and above all, God's punishment, befall him."
Key Details on the Matanzas Family Murder Case
Who was sentenced for the murder of the Cuban family in Matanzas?
Víctor Luis Hozman Reyes was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a Cuban family in Matanzas.
What was the motive behind the murders?
Hozman Reyes killed the family with the intent to steal money and valuables from their home.
When did the trial for the accused begin?
The trial was set to begin on July 2, 2024, at the Provincial Court of Matanzas.