Yelena Ramírez, girlfriend of Cuban reggaeton artist Chocolate MC, reacted with outrage after the guilty verdict delivered by a jury in Miami. She claims that her partner is being punished for something he did not do.
“It is an injustice what they are doing to him. Because while the real murderer is calmly out there, a person who hasn't killed anyone is not a murderer… will be found guilty”, he said in statements to Univision after the hearing, clearly referring to Damian Valdez, who is awaiting trial for the murder of El Taiger.
The case has sparked a strong reaction both in the singer's close circle and within the Cuban music community.
The controversial and explosive figure of the reggaeton artist is once again at the center of a legal storm that could now cost him his freedom for life.
Guilty of inciting murder
Yosvani Sierra Hernández, known as Chocolate MC, was found guilty of first-degree homicide conspiracy by a jury composed of four men and three women.
The process took place in a single day under the supervision of Judge Milton Hirsch from the Miami-Dade Circuit Court.
The accusation was based on a video in which the artist, from prison, called for the killing of Damian Valdez Galloso, who is accused of murdering the reggaeton artist El Taiger.
The prosecutor's office presented that material as central evidence. Chocolate acknowledged that the video existed, but denied that it reflected his true intentions:
"I acknowledge that I did not express myself properly, but that video does not give me confidence because it is edited", he said during the trial.
After hearing the verdict, the reggaeton artist slammed his hands on the table. The reaction was immediate, both inside the courtroom and outside, where fans and supporters denounced what they consider to be an unfair trial.
The Goddess: "He's not a killer, he's a sick man."
One of the most powerful voices was that of the singer La Diosa, who attended the trial as a witness but tearfully explained that she could not state what she had prepared.
"I have an immense frustration. Today I witnessed the trial of Yosvani, of Chocolate. I have known Yosvani for over 15 years, and I would do it a thousand times if I had to come back more, but I am frustrated because they practically didn’t let me speak," she said in a video posted after leaving the courthouse.
The artist not only defended her colleague but also brought to the forefront a crucial perspective: the mental health and addiction history of the reggaeton artist.
"Yosvani is not a killer. He has lived under the influence of drugs, experiencing many crises. He is a sick man who should have received help first. We cannot expect a sick person to behave like a normal one," he asserted
Regarding his behavior on social media, he said:
"Yosvani has always been a loudmouth, a clown online, but never a killer. Every time he made a fuss, it was to draw attention, not to cause harm."
The Goddess ended her message with a plea:
“I ask Changó, Oshún, and my ancestors to help you, brother. May you overcome this and learn from your mistakes. I hope the judge is fair. I know you will face some punishment, but life imprisonment… that’s not right.”
A pending sentence and more charges on the horizon
The final sentence has not yet been issued, but Chocolate MC faces the possibility of a life sentence. Moreover, he is not the only open case he has. The artist has other pending charges, including one for attempted kidnapping.
For those who defend him, the system has targeted a vulnerable man, dependent on drugs, and without emotional or psychological support.
For justice, what is said on social media—no matter how ironic or impulsive it may sound—has consequences. What Chocolate MC said, even though he didn't fire a weapon, was enough to place him in the dock as an instigator of a crime.
Meanwhile, his girlfriend Yelena insists: "He didn't kill anyone."
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