Zadiel Rivero, a Cuban national, has been found guilty of the 2019 stabbing murder of a man in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, while his brother Zandy de la Osa was acquitted of the same charge.
On Friday, a jury convicted the 44-year-old Rivero of second-degree murder for killing Frank Canet, 31, in February 2019. Rivero's sentencing is scheduled for the end of the year, and he could face a life sentence, according to a report by NBC6 South Florida.
Meanwhile, de la Osa was declared innocent and walked out of the courtroom a free man after spending five years in prison. "I am happy. But I hope my brother gets out too," he said outside the courthouse.
His defense attorney, Bruce Lehr, commented, "The jury's verdict showed my client was justified, as he did nothing wrong," adding, "I regret that the final outcome was someone's death."
Canet was killed on the night of February 11, 2019, in the parking lot of Rivero's home located at 8900 block of Northwest 112th Terrace. Rivero, then 38, had a violent altercation with the victim. During the fight, he stabbed Canet 29 times in the torso with a kitchen knife and then threw him to the ground, as shown by surveillance footage captured outside the accused's residence.
De la Osa placed his left leg and a metal pipe on the victim's body to prevent him from getting up. However, Canet managed to escape and get into his car, but Rivero chased him. The victim's girlfriend, Dilaxy Madruga, tried to call 911, but Rivero took her phone away.
Eventually, the couple fled and reached Mount Sinai Hialeah Medical Center, where Canet succumbed to his injuries.
Trial Highlights
During the trial, which took place last week, five years after the crime, the brothers did not dispute the surveillance footage showing them killing Canet, but claimed they were fighting for their lives, NBC6 reported. "I was desperate and scared. I acted out of fear. That instinct and fear to save my life and my brothers'," Rivero testified, attempting to justify the crime to the jury.
When questioned by his lawyer, Jonathan Jordan, about whether he wished it had never happened, Rivero responded, "Of course."
The defense attorneys did not deny the murder but argued it was in self-defense because the victim was on drugs and threatening Rivero, as reported by Telemundo 51. Jordan based this claim on Canet's positive methamphetamine toxicology report, asserting that the drug caused him to exhibit "superhuman" behavior.
Lehr also stated, "My client was helping his brother to prevent an intoxicated Superman from killing him."
In their closing arguments, the prosecutors reminded the jury that the real victim in the case was Canet, not the brothers, and displayed a mannequin with more than two dozen pins in the areas where the victim was stabbed. The knife wounds inflicted by Rivero were so deep that they cut through Canet's pancreas, according to the prosecution's report.
This is not Rivero's only legal issue; he also faces charges for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl along with his wife, Yaisel Faya-Guinea. They recorded the incident with their home's surveillance cameras.
Key Questions About the Hialeah Gardens Murder Case
Here are some critical questions and answers to help understand the complexities of the Hialeah Gardens murder case involving Zadiel Rivero and his brother, Zandy de la Osa.
What were the charges against Zadiel Rivero and Zandy de la Osa?
Zadiel Rivero was charged with second-degree murder, while Zandy de la Osa faced the same charge but was acquitted.
What was the defense's argument in the murder trial?
The defense argued that the murder was in self-defense, as the victim, Frank Canet, was on methamphetamine and exhibited violent behavior.
What additional legal issues does Zadiel Rivero face?
Rivero also faces charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl, along with his wife, Yaisel Faya-Guinea, and recording the incident on their home's surveillance cameras.