U.S. charges former senator over Haiti President Killing

The U.S. has charged a former senator following the assassination of Haiti’s President last year

51-year-old John Joel Joseph made his first U.S. court appearance on Monday afternoon after being extradited from Jamaica.

He was charged with conspiring to commit murder or kidnapping outside the U.S. and providing material support resulting in death.

He becomes the third person charged in relation to what authorities say was a wide-reaching plot involving at least 20 Colombian citizens and several dual nationals.

Haiti’s President, Jovenel Moïse was murdered in July last year amid a worsening political and economic crisis.

Joseph was accused of helping “obtain vehicles and attempted to obtain firearms to support the operation against the president,” according to the U.S. Justice Department.

They also claim he attended meetings with “co-conspirators” that intended to kill President Moise.

Joseph is a well-known politician and critic of Moise’s Tet Kale Party–and will face life imprisonment if he is convicted of the charges against him.

Along with Joseph, the two individuals that the U.S. has charged include businessman Rodolphe Jaar and former Colombian soldier Mario Antonio Palacios.

Both men were accused of being involved in the assassination.

There are over 40 other individuals that are suspected to be involved in Moise’s killing.

Since the president’s murder, violence has surged in Hati.

Rival gangs are currently battling for control of neighbourhoods in and around the country’s capital.

A statement on May 4 estimates that 39 people have been killed and over 68 injured.

Roughly 9,000 people have been displaced.