MIAMI (WSVN) - Pablo Lyle, a popular Mexican actor known for his performances in telenovelas such as “Una familia con suerte,” appeared in court at the Metro Justice building, Thursday.
He faced a judge in a self-defense hearing for a road rage incident that occurred back in March.
Although it was a pre-trial hearing, expert testimonies, video evidence, witness interviews and cross examination made it sound like a trial in and of itself.
“It was one blow. The guy went down, never moved again,” Maria Rizzo, one of the witnesses, testified.
“I just heard him scream, ‘No! No! No! Please, don’t hurt me!'” Jessica Rocha, another witness, said.
Lyle’s case gained national attention because of its connection to Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.
He’s been charged with manslaughter for punching 63-year-old Juan Ricardo Hernandez in a road-rage altercation that was caught on camera on March 31.
The punch eventually killed Hernandez after he sustained a massive brain injury.
Lyle requested the judge to drop the manslaughter charges because his attorneys said he punched Hernandez in self-defense per the Stand Your Ground law since he was trying to protect his family, who was in the car at the time of the incident.
During the tense hearing, Lucas Del Fino, Lyle’s brother-in-law who was driving the car in which Lyle was the passenger before the confrontation, said Hernandez was the aggressor, not the victim, and Hernandez got out of his car first.
“The next thing I know, I hear a loud banging on my window,” Del Fino said.
What happened next and why was questioned in court. Lyle said he punched Hernandez because he feared for his life and the safety of the kids in the car.
“The kids started crying,” Del Fino said, “and one of them started crying and the other two were yelling.”
Other independent witnesses maintained that Lyle appeared to be the attacker.
“He just seemed out of control,” Rizzo said.
At around 5 p.m., Lyle took the witness stand to defend himself.
“He could’ve gotten a gun, or he could’ve used his car as a weapon,” Lyle said.
When asked how Hernandez could have used the vehicle as a weapon, Lyle said, “Ramming the back of our car.”
When asked what is in the rear seat of the vehicle, Lyle said, “My wife. My kids and my nephew.”
“Did you have any idea that Mr. Hernandez said something to you? Like, ‘Please, no. Don’t hit me,'” an attorney asked Lyle.
“No, he didn’t, sir,” Lyle said.
If the judge denies the Stand Your Ground request by Lyle’s defense team, the prosecution will move to trial.
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