Cuba Archive - Case 1255

Case ID: 1255

Title: First Lieutentant

First name: José

Last name: Velasquez Fernández

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: N/A

Name also reported as: José Velazquez Fernández, Tace Velázquez Fernández

Age: 28

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:9 / Month:7 / Year:1931

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:6 / Month:2 / Year:1959

Citizenship: Cuba

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: Santa Clara

Last known province-TOD: Villa Clara

Last known province current: Villa Clara

Last known country: Cuba

Location death-address: N/A

Location of death - city: Santa Clara

Location of death province - at TOD: Las Villas

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: Cuba

Trial held?: Yes

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: Capital punishment

Arrest or detention at time of death: Yes

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Che Guevera

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

First Lieutenant and chief of "Capitanía" of Las Villas executed by order of Che Guevara, who signed the death sentence before he left Santa Clara for Havana. He had been accused of killing three rebels in the Escambray mountains and had been absolved in his trial for lack of evidence. But they demanded another trial. The three alleged victims were going to testify at the trial but he was re-tried, summarily sentenced to death, and executed almost immediately. He left a widow and 5 year-old daughter. His father was General Velázquez Perera. 11 persons were executed on the same day as him and 12 persons the day before.
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Ejecutado por orden del Che Guevara, que firmó la sentencia de muerte antes de salir de Santa Clara para La Habana. Había sido absuelto en su juicio, por falta de pruebas, y fue nuevamente juzgado sumariamente, condenado a muerte y ejecutado casi de inmediato. Dejó a una viuda ya una hija de 5 años. Su padre era el general Velázquez Perera. 11 personas fueron ejecutadas el mismo día que él y 12 personas el día anterior.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Confirmed with primary source(s)

Cause of Death: - Execution: by firing squad

Occupations: - Military Specific Occupations

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Armed Forces: served Batista government

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: N/A

Case Record - José Velasquez Fernández