Mexican actor Pablo Lyle, sentenced to 5 years in prison for manslaughter

The nightmare of the Mexican actor Pablo Lyle will continue.

Judge Marisa Tinkler has handed down a sentence of 5 years in prison and 8 years on probation to the interpreter found guilty of involuntary manslaughter after fatally beating Cuban Juan Ricardo Hernández, 63, on a Florida avenue in March 2019. This is one of the most difficult cases I have ever had to deal with.

My motivation is to impose a fair sentence and this case has not stopped being in my head since 2019, this has not stopped being in the minds and hearts of the family of Mr. Hernández and of the family of Mr. Lyle, so many people are has been affected by what happened that day.

Mr. Hernández did not deserve to die that day”, said the magistrate this Friday when imposing the sentence.

The judge considered mitigating factors to impose her sentence such as the lack of a criminal record and the defendant's repentance.

At the nearly four-hour hearing, the 36-year-old actor was dressed in prison uniform and looked visibly tense.

The defense has 30 days to appeal the sentence.

For the first time during the entire process, the protagonist of the film

spoke.

"This is the result of something I did and that is always with me when I go to sleep, nobody would have wanted this to happen and nobody wants something like this, something that affects in a matter of seconds with a fist, what can I say about what happened, I'm sorry, I'm really sorry from the bottom of my heart.

I know that you have lost someone very important in your life and I know that there is nothing I can do to bring him back.

I am very sorry, it is the most sincere apology I have offered in my life, ”she said, interspersing phrases in English and Spanish and sobbing.

The actor's brother-in-law, Lucas Delfino, took the floor to apologize to the Hernández family, who was in the room and again put forward the defense that both he and Lyle reacted out of fear and in self-defense.

“I think the way to heal our hearts is not by holding on to suffering and pain,” he said.

Silvia Lyle and Ana Araujo, the actor's sister and wife, also spoke at the audience.

"I am proud of you Pablo, many can judge a reaction, but not everyone can see what I have seen, I have witnessed your pain, your repentance and the goodness of your great spirit", declared his wife addressing the actor , who was visibly moved.

Both the ex-partner of the deceased, Mercedes Arce, and Juan Hernández, son of the victim, asked the judge for the maximum sentence of 15 years against the actor.

“It has been a very hard four years.

My father was a gentleman who enjoyed good health.

I never thought this would happen to my father, he was a man of principles and he was a man of promises who kept them.

In 2011 he came to this country and made me a promise: 'not to worry that he was going to bring me to this country' and he kept it, so I want you to know that my father is very proud that I am here representing him him and our family.

That is why I want to ask you, your honor, that Mr. Pablo Lyle be given the maximum penalty, ”he said.

The Prosecutor's Office seconded the request of Fernández's relatives.

“We are talking about lack of responsibility, the defendant holds the victim responsible for his actions.

The defendant's decisions warrant repercussions," the prosecutor said.

On the contrary, the defendant's lawyers asked the judge for clemency, arguing that Lyle has no criminal record, as a result of fear and the need to protect his family, for which they requested a sentence of one year and one day.

Two months ago, the magistrate rejected Lyle's request for a new trial and upheld the guilty verdict delivered last October by a jury.

At that time, the actor's legal defense requested that the trial and verdict be annulled, alleging that there were inconsistencies and that no evidence or witnesses were admitted that would have shown that the actor acted out of fear for his life and that of his children.

From the beginning of the judicial process, Lyle's lawyers argued that he acted in self-defense, but that claim was rejected by a higher court that ordered the trial.

On the contrary, the US Attorney's Office assured the jury that the victim's last words were: "Please don't hurt me", before falling and fatally hitting himself.

2019 was going to be the best year in Pablo Lyle's career.

At the age of 32 and after spending half of his life as a leading man in soap operas, in January he was enjoying the success of his first film role in

.

In less than five minutes his destiny took a radical turn that afternoon of March 31.

That day, after a family vacation, the interpreter was going with his family to the airport in Miami, Florida, when he encountered a traffic disturbance.

In the images of the security cameras, it is observed how the actor hits a man, who is left lying on the ground.

The victim, of Cuban origin, died four days after the attack due to the consequences of "blunt trauma to the head."

It was then that the Miami authorities forced Lyle to return to the United States.

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