FILE – First Girl Martine Moise arrives for a tribute for her late husband President Jovenel Moise on the Nationwide Pantheon Museum in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, July 21, 2021. A Haitian decide investigating the July 2021 assassination of Moise issued an arrest warrant for his spouse late final 12 months to interrogate her in regards to the case, in line with a authorized doc leaked late Monday, Jan.29, 2024, that The Related Press obtained. (AP Photograph/Odelyn Joseph, File)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A Haitian decide investigating the July 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moïse issued an arrest warrant for his spouse late final 12 months for failing to fulfill with him so he might interrogate her in regards to the case, in line with a authorized doc leaked late Monday that The Related Press obtained.
The warrant is dated Oct. 25 and signed by Choose Walther Voltaire, who’s overseeing an ongoing investigation into the killing that occurred at Moïse’s non-public residence, the place authorities say a gaggle of closely armed males shot him a dozen occasions and injured his spouse, Martine Moïse.
The one-page warrant incorporates little element besides to say that authorities are searching for to interview Martine Moïse in regards to the case. It doesn’t state nor recommend any involvement.
Martine Moïse couldn’t be instantly reached for remark, and a spokesman for an lawyer of hers based mostly in Florida mentioned he was attempting to succeed in the lawyer.
Messages despatched to individuals near her went unanswered.
After the July 7, 2021 assassination, Martine Moïse was airlifted to a hospital in Florida for therapy. She returned unannounced to Haiti less than two weeks later, stunning many. Since then, she is believed to be residing within the U.S. and has occasionally posted in regards to the assassination on X, the platform formally often called Twitter.
In December, she wrote that the “assassins…really feel that their reign of impunity and untouchability appears to be coming to an finish.”
This month, she repeated her name for a global tribunal to research the case, writing, “Haiti get up, in order that the social injustice accomplished to the individuals might be repaired.”
In June final 12 months, attorneys for Martine Moïse filed a lawsuit against those accused in the killing searching for unspecified damages and a trial by jury.
Voltaire, the decide investigating the case, didn’t instantly reply to requires remark.
He was appointed in Might 2022 to supervise the case, becoming the fifth judge to do so. Earlier judges have stepped down, together with one who mentioned he feared for his life and one other who left a day after considered one of his assistants died below unclear circumstances.
The case has largely stalled in Haiti, the place greater than 40 suspects have been arrested within the killing, together with 18 Colombian troopers and no less than 20 Haitian law enforcement officials.
In the meantime, U.S. authorities have prosecuted several extradited suspects in the case. 4 of 11 suspects in Miami have pleaded responsible, together with a retired Colombian military officer and a former Haitian senator.
Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
