MIAMI, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- A jailed Cuban spy has changed his story and now says two exile planes were shot down over international waters in 1996.
Cuba has always maintained its air force downed the Brothers to the Rescue planes in its own airspace, which was key to the defense of five Cuban spies in their 2001 Miami trial.
In a habeas corpus petition filed in Miami federal court, Gerardo Hernandez, serving life for murder conspiracy in the incident, is now saying his trial attorney, Paul McKenna, botched his defense by focusing excessively on the location, The Miami Herald reports.
"In short, Hernandez's lawyer was his worst enemy in the courtroom," his appellate attorneys wrote.
Hernandez, who said he did not know in advance of the attack plan, and the rest of the so-called Cuban Five were part of a network sent to spy on South Florida's exiles and military installations. They infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue, which flew missions searching for Cuban rafters.
The five have been made into official heroes in Cuba.
Hernandez was the only one convicted for the shootdown. UPI
