Murder in 10 de Octubre: man stabbed to death after winning lottery in Havana
Yosvani Hernández Meriño, aged 31, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in his home in the Lawton neighbourhood. Three people are reported to have been detained.
Man stabbed during celebration in Lawton; three arrested
The Havana municipality of 10 de Octubre recorded one of the most shocking crimes of recent months last Friday, according to cibercuba.com. The victim, Yosvani Hernández Meriño, known in the neighbourhood as Pocholo or El Moro, was found dead at around 4:00 a.m. in his home in the Lawton neighbourhood, on the Calzada de 10 de Octubre, opposite a school and near a bakery, close to the Dolores traffic light.
Witnesses cited by the Facebook page 'Reporte Cuba Ya' stated that the body bore between ten and fourteen stab wounds and a deep cut to the neck. The body is reported to have been covered with a mattress before being left at the scene. Hernández Meriño was 31 years old and the father of a seven-year-old girl.
The night of the crime: a lottery prize and a celebration
According to an article signed by Rolando Remedios Sánchez and published by the blog Café Fuerte, the victim had won a lottery prize that same day and organised a celebration at his home which was attended by several acquaintances. According to testimonies gathered by that source, in the early hours of the morning some of the guests attacked him with the apparent intention of stealing money and electrical appliances.
Neighbours of the area reported hearing screams coming from the courtyard of the house in the early hours of the morning. Up to eight people are reported to have participated in the attack, according to the same testimonies cited by Café Fuerte.
Investigation ongoing; three people arrested
The body was transferred to the Forensic Medicine department, where specialists are carrying out the corresponding forensic tests. Unofficial sources indicate that three people are reported to have been arrested in connection with the case, although their identities have not been revealed nor has their degree of involvement been specified.
So far, neither state media nor competent institutions have issued an official statement on the matter. The investigation, which remains ongoing, seeks to clarify both the motive and the identity of all those responsible.
Accusations on social media and denial of alleged involvement
Hours after the news was circulated, the name of a person began to circulate on social media platforms, identified by the victim's family members as a possible suspect. That person publicly rejected any connection with the crime, stating that he had maintained a friendship with the deceased and that he regretted his loss. Furthermore, he warned that he could initiate legal action for defamation if accusations against him persisted.
'Reporte Cuba Ya' clarified that it was not making a direct accusation, but rather reproducing testimonies from family members and neighbours expressed openly on social media. Some theories circulating among residents point to a personal motive or one linked to previous relationships, although the authorities have not confirmed any version.
Background: participant in the 11-J protests
According to the Café Fuerte article, Hernández Meriño had participated in the protests of 11 July 2021 in Havana. He was detained the day after the demonstrations and beaten while in the Young People's Prison of Cotorro, being released days later.
Rolando Remedios Sánchez, author of that article, is himself a participant in the 11-J protests and the subject of the iconic photograph of the protests in front of the Capitol building in Havana. He currently resides in Germany, where he has requested political asylum.
Community grief and debate over insecurity
The murder generated a wave of messages of grief and solidarity, particularly over the situation of the victim's young daughter, who is left without her father. Friends and relatives describe Hernández Meriño as a cheerful, hard-working and supportive person, always willing to help those around him.
The crime has reopened the debate on the increase in violence in the capital. Residents of the municipality express fear and point out that in recent months they have become aware of other episodes of crime in the area. The absence of official information creates, according to the residents themselves, a climate of uncertainty that fuels rumours and contradictory accounts.
Family members, friends and neighbours are maintaining symbolic vigils and messages of tribute, with a unanimous request: that the truth be known and that justice be done.
Source: Google News CU — La Habana