Havana, Cuba - A provincial court in the western province of Artemisa punished seven citizens with jails sentences, including two life terms, after declaring them directly guilty and involved in the murder of four people during a plan for a pretended and illegal departure of the country.

Defendants Jorge Luis Salazar and Reinier Armas were given life sentences after planning a presumed and illegal departure of eleven persons with the aim of getting the money that those people would pay for their departure to the United States of America by sea; four of them were murdered in the act.

The event took place in the evening of June 7, when the two defendants with the involvement of other persons took the presumed illegal emigrants to a local cattle ranch in the locality of Bauta, where they took advantage of the dark conditions to attack them and steal the money from them.

Salazar and Armas, along Rafael Sanchez also involved in the crime, had carried out a similar action two years ago, reads the announcement published on Granma newspaper.

As a result of the trial, Salazar and Armas were given life sentences, and Sanchez was given 25 years. Also punished was Yassel Monetro to 22 years in prison on the charges of violent robbery and intimidation of persons.

Another two individuals were charged with trafficking in persons and were given 10 and eight years.

Both Salazar and Armas will also have to compensate the relatives of the victims, the article explains.

The defendants have the right to appeal the provincial court sentence at the Cuban Supreme Court.