A Cuban woman has been handed a 26-month prison sentence in the Cayman Islands after causing the death of her 20-year-old friend in a tragic traffic accident in 2022. According to Cayman Islands media, the legal proceedings for Ygnacia Rafaelina Francisco Payero, aged 42, faced delays due to slow accident reconstruction reports. This week, the court finally sentenced her to two years and two months behind bars.
The case, which deeply impacted the migrant community in George Town, dates back to the early hours of August 8, 2022. Payero was driving a Honda Accord at high speed after leaving a bar, accompanied by her friend Aleiny Reve Villegas from Villa Clara, Cuba, and two other passengers. In an attempt to overtake another vehicle, she lost control and crashed into a concrete wall. Villegas was killed instantly, and the other passengers sustained severe injuries.
In November 2024, Payero pleaded guilty to causing death by reckless driving. She admitted to consuming alcohol that night, specifically two Hennessy cocktails, and exceeding the speed limit, driving at over 80 km/h in a 48 km/h zone. Although she held only a learner's permit in the Cayman Islands, she did have a valid driver's license from the Dominican Republic.
The court took into account several mitigating factors when determining Payero's sentence, including her "genuine remorse," her close relationship with the victim—described as a mother-daughter bond—and her financial support for one of the survivors during the ongoing case. During the sentencing hearing, Aleiny’s father presented an emotional impact statement, detailing how the loss of his youngest daughter, just a month shy of her 21st birthday, had deeply affected him. He quit his job as a driver, fell into depression, and witnessed the declining health of Aleiny's mother and grandmother.
Despite the tragic consequences of the accident, the court acknowledged Payero's acceptance of responsibility from the start, her cooperation with the justice system, and her lack of prior criminal records. Therefore, she received a sentence of two years and two months, with credit for time already served in pre-trial detention.
Following the tragedy in 2022, the Cuban community in the Cayman Islands launched a fundraising campaign on GoFundMe to repatriate the body of young Aleiny Revé Villegas. Having arrived in Grand Cayman in 2016 at the age of 15, she worked at a shop in Foster's Camana Bay. "Her dream was to work hard to repay her grandmother for all she had done for her. She wanted to provide a better life for her family and travel the world. Her dream was to one day own a home in the Cayman Islands, settle down, and start a family," her older sister recalled.
Understanding the Legal Implications of the Cayman Islands Incident
What was Ygnacia Rafaelina Francisco Payero charged with?
She was charged with causing death by reckless driving after a fatal accident in which her friend died.
What factors did the court consider in Payero's sentencing?
The court considered her genuine remorse, her close relationship with the victim, and her assistance to one of the survivors, among other factors.
Why was there a delay in Payero's legal proceedings?
The delay was due to slow accident reconstruction reports, which postponed the legal process.