In a landmark decision, the Provincial Popular Court of Santiago de Cuba has handed down life sentences to three men found guilty of murdering a security guard and attempting to kill another in the Contramaestre municipality. The verdict was announced following a public trial held on October 25 in the Second Criminal Chamber of the court, as reported by the Sierra Maestra newspaper.
The individuals sentenced to life imprisonment are Roberto Acosta Estrada, Erisdel García Zulueta, and Rosendo Ramón Guevara González. They were convicted of both completed murder and attempted murder.
The incident took place on the night of August 4, 2025, at the UBPC Fidel Domenech Rizo in the locality of Baire. The three attackers entered the cooperative with the intent to steal sheep. During the robbery, they assaulted two security guards with knives; one died, and the other was left in such a critical state that initial reports from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) suggested he had also died.
Following the attack, the perpetrators escaped with 13 sheep and other items stolen from the facility. By the time authorities intervened, the stolen animals had already been slaughtered, and their meat distributed to various dining and recreational establishments in the municipality.
The case was solved in less than a day. Investigations began in the early hours of August 5, 2025, and with the help of local residents, six men aged between 33 and 43 were arrested in connection with the crime by the following day.
In addition to the life sentences, the court sentenced Alexander Bello Macías and Wilfredo Álvarez Macías to two years in prison for receiving stolen goods, specifically the animals from the robbery.
The ruling also included additional penalties and mandated compensation to the victims' families. Both the convicted individuals and the prosecution retain the right to appeal the decision through the Supreme People's Court.
The sentences are among the harshest publicly recorded in a series of crimes against security guards that have plagued the eastern province since mid-2024. Back in January 2026, the same court imposed sentences ranging from 28 to 30 years on four individuals for the murder of another guard in Nuevo Mundo, Dos Caminos.
This troubling pattern involves individuals targeting agricultural cooperatives and other facilities to steal livestock or other goods, often resulting in fatal or severe attacks on the guards. The ongoing economic crisis in Cuba, exacerbated by decades of communist dictatorship, has led to food shortages and a thriving black market for meat, fueling such criminal activities.
The current Cuban Penal Code, enacted in 2022, prescribes penalties ranging from 20 to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty for murder with aggravating circumstances. The publication describing the court's decision hailed it as "an exemplary trial against acts of extreme violence."
Key Aspects of the Custodian Murder Case in Santiago de Cuba
What was the motive behind the murder of the custodians?
The attackers intended to steal sheep from the cooperative, which led to the violent confrontation with the custodians.
How quickly was the case resolved by authorities?
The case was resolved in less than 24 hours, with six suspects arrested the day after the incident.
What additional penalties were imposed?
In addition to life sentences, two individuals were sentenced to two years for receiving stolen goods, and financial compensation was ordered for the victims' families.