Puerto Rican ex-boxer Félix Verdejo sentenced to life in jail within the killing of his pregnant lover

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Former Puerto Rican boxer Félix Verdejo obtained two life sentences on Friday after he was discovered responsible within the grisly killing of his 27-year-old pregnant lover.

A federal decide sentenced Verdejo following emotional speeches by the household of Keishla Rodríguez, who was killed in April 2021.

Verdejo had been found guilty in July of kidnapping that results in a dying and of inflicting the dying of an unborn little one. His legal professional mentioned Friday that he plans to enchantment the sentencing.

Many throughout Puerto Rico celebrated the end result of the case.

“This sentence ought to function a lesson for others,” Puerto Rico Police Commissioner Antonio López mentioned. “It does not matter how a lot fame, cash or energy you assume you will have. If you happen to break the legislation, you’ll have to reply.”

Through the trial earlier this 12 months, Luis Antonio Cádiz, a pal of Verdejo’s additionally charged within the case, mentioned the previous boxer had pressured Rodríguez to get an abortion. He additionally testified that the day Verdejo killed Rodríguez, the ex-boxer punched her and injected her with a poisonous substance earlier than they tied her limbs to a cement block and threw her off a busy bridge and right into a lagoon in broad daylight.

Cádiz later known as 911 anonymously and supplied the situation of Rodríguez’s physique.

An post-mortem discovered that Rodríguez had fentanyl and xylazine, a sedative used for animals together with horses, in her system.

The case surprised the U.S. territory, the place many have demanded higher safety for home violence victims.

Verdejo had participated within the 2012 Olympics and have become knowledgeable boxer that 12 months. He completed his profession within the light-weight division with a 27-2 document, with 17 knockouts.