Trial of Pastor Sanon in Haiti president’s murder case set to begin in US — PBS NewsHour

The trial of Pastor Christian Emmanuel Sanon in the case of the murder of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse is set to begin in Miami, United States. Sanon, who holds Haitian and US citizenship, has pleaded not guilty to eight charges, including conspiracy to kidnap or kill a person outside the United States, PBS NewsHour reports.

Jovenel Moïse was killed on July 7, 2021, during a nighttime attack on his private residence near Port-au-Prince. About two dozen foreign mercenaries, mostly from Colombia, attacked the house; the president’s wife, Martine Moïse, was wounded. According to US prosecutors, South Florida was one of the central locations for planning and financing the conspiracy to remove Moïse and replace him with a candidate selected by the conspirators.

Proceedings in the United States

US prosecutors have charged more than 40 people in connection with the murder of the Haitian president. Twelve have already been found guilty, with five of them serving life sentences. Sanon’s case had previously been scheduled to be heard together with four other defendants who were convicted this year, but the proceedings against him were separated and postponed due to his health condition.

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The prosecution alleges that Sanon helped raise money for the conspiracy, organized trips to Haiti and accommodation on the island for himself and other people. According to investigators, the plan to remove Moïse began taking shape in April 2021, when Sanon met in South Florida with a former Haitian senator and several US businessmen.

Difficulties with the investigation in Haiti

In 2025, Haitian officials asked the United States and Canada for help after the country’s court of appeal ordered a new investigation into the murder. This was the third such attempt since Moïse’s death; according to the source, he was shot 12 times.

Previous investigations stalled because judges left the case out of fear for their lives, while gangs took control of the courthouse in downtown Port-au-Prince where suspects were questioned. Haiti’s Ministry of Justice and Public Security stated that judicial procedures in the country continue to face significant difficulties.