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Armed men briefly occupied an office of the presidency in
capital Kinshasa on May 19 before their leader, U.S.-based
Congolese politician Christian Malanga, was killed by security
forces.
His son, Marcel Malanga, was among the Americans on trial, along
with Marcel's friend, Tyler Thompson, who played high school
football with him in Utah. Both are in their 20s.
The third American, Benjamin Zalman-Polun, was a business
associate of Christian Malanga.
All three were found guilty of criminal conspiracy, terrorism
and other charges, and sentenced to death in a ruling read on
live TV.
Malanga had previously told the court that his father had
threatened to kill him unless he participated. He also told the
court it was his first time visiting Congo at the invitation of
his father, whom he had not seen in years.
The Americans are among some 50 people, including U.S., British,
Canadian, Belgian and Congolese citizens, standing trial
following the failed coup.
A total of 37 defendants were sentenced to death.
The verdict was read out under a tent in the yard of Ndolo
military prison on the outskirts of Kinshasa. The defendants
were seated in front of the judge, wearing blue and yellow
prison-issued tops.
The trial began in July.
In Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said
embassy staff had attended the proceedings and would continue to
follow developments closely.
"We understand that the legal process in the DRC allows for
defendants to appeal the court's decision," he told a briefing.
The 37 defendants include Belgian-Congolese citizen Jean-Jacques
Wondo. Wondo's family released video messages addressed to Congo
President Félix Tshisekedi ahead of the trial to ask for his
release.
"I beg you, intervene, he is innocent," Nathalie Kayembe Wondo,
his wife, said in the message.
Relatives of Marcel Malanga and Thompson did not respond to
requests for comment.
Marcel Malanga's mother, Brittney Sawyer, has previously said
her son is innocent.
Thompson's stepmother, Miranda Thompson, has previously said her
stepson travelled to Congo on vacation to explore the world.
Thompson is feeling lonely and isolated in prison, according to
the fundraising site that his family set up to support his
defense.
(Additional reporting by David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Writing by
Jessica Donati; Editing by Alison Williams, Andrew Heavens,
William Maclean and Sandra Maler)
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