Cuban hijackers sentenced to 20-24 years

MIAMI, April 21 (UPI) -- Six Cubans convicted of hijacking a jetliner from Havana to Key West, Fla., were sentenced to 20-24 years in prison Wednesday in Miami.

The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge James Lawrence King, The Miami Herald reported. Twenty years is the minimum that could have been imposed.

The men hijacked the airliner at knifepoint in March 2003 and were convicted in a trial in Key West in December.

A five-hour hearing was held Tuesday and the men were given the opportunity to state their case before the verdict was delivered Wednesday.

The defendants were Alexis Norneilla Morales, Eduardo Mejia Morales, Yainer Olivares Samon, NeudisInfates Hernandez, Alvenis Arias Isquierdo and Miakel Guerra Morales.

Norneilla and Guerra received 24 years and the remainder got 20. Prosecutors had asked for more time because the defendants lied when they testified during the trial.