Former First Lady delivers emotional, graphic account in federal conspiracy trial of four South Florida defendants
In a dramatic second day of testimony on March 12 in U.S. federal court in Miami, former Haitian First Lady Martine Moïse directly implicated former President Michel Martelly and former Prime Minister Ariel Henry in connections to the July 7, 2021, assassination of her husband, President Jovenel Moïse.
Testifying as the prosecution’s key witness in the conspiracy trial of four South Florida men accused of helping orchestrate the plot, Moïse provided an emotional and graphic account of the nighttime attack at the couple’s home in Pétion-Ville, Haiti. Armed intruders stormed the residence, fatally shooting Jovenel Moïse multiple times while Martine Moïse was also wounded but survived and was later airlifted to the United States for treatment.
During cross-examination and her statements, Moïse accused Martelly, her husband’s predecessor, of ties to the killing, noting that security arrangements from his administration may have played a role. She similarly pointed to Ariel Henry, who became acting prime minister shortly after the assassination, claiming she has filed a formal complaint against him in the case. Moïse asserted that accusations against her in Haiti (where she was indicted in 2024 for alleged complicity, charges she rejects as politically motivated) stem from the fact that “the people who killed him are now in power in Haiti.”
The trial focuses on four defendants charged with conspiracy in a plot prosecutors say was partly planned in South Florida, involving Colombian mercenaries who carried out the attack. Nearly five years after the assassination plunged Haiti into deeper instability, Moïse emphasized her ongoing pursuit of “truth and justice” for her husband.
L’Union Suite spoke exclusively with Tania Francois of CBS 4 Miami, who was in the courtroom covering the proceedings. In our interview, Francois broke down the key moments of Martine Moïse’s powerful testimony, including her tearful descriptions of the attack, the graphic details shared on the stand, and the direct accusations against prominent Haitian political figures.
The courtroom testimony has reignited calls for full accountability in Haiti and internationally, as the case continues to expose deep divisions and allegations of political involvement in the president’s murder.
L’Union Suite will continue to follow the trial, including upcoming witnesses, defense arguments, and any further revelations. Our thoughts remain with Martine Moïse and the entire Pata family as they seek justice after years of pain.
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