Five men accused of plotting to kill Fidel Castro had histories of helping Cuban refugees and protesting peacefully against Castro's government but were not known to use violence, witnesses called by the defense testified in federal court in San Juan Thursday. Three of the five accused were on a yacht stopped by the U.S. Coast Guard in international waters off Puerto Rico on October 27, 1997. One of the men then blurted out that they had intended to assassinate Castro.
Prosecutors charge the other two aided the plot.
Although there have been many reports of attempts to kill Castro, this is the first such trial in the United States. When the trial began two weeks ago, defense lawyers said the men actually were going to the island to help any members of Castro's entourage who wanted to defect. They said they needed the military-type equipment for protection. In court Thursday, defense lawyers called a variety of witnesses who testified that the five accused had worked to help refugees for years. Cuban-American activist Evaristo Sotolongo testified that one of the accused, Angel Alfonso, had participated in peaceful demonstrations with him against Castro's government in New York and Miami at various times.