A motorist who shot dead two environmental protesters blocking a road in Panama on Tuesday is a retired American lawyer, it has been revealed.
Kenneth Darlington, 77, appeared before a judge in the town of La Espiga on Wednesday afternoon, and after a two-hour hearing was remanded in custody.
According to local media, the Panamanian-born US citizen - who was seen in both video and pictures shooting dead two teachers blocking a road on a highway - has a previous conviction for illegal possession of a firearm.
It is understood he declared ‘this ends here’ before walking up to the road block on a section of the Pan-American Highway in the Chame district and getting into a heated argument with a group of men that included the two victims.
In front of a large number of photographers and television crews there to film the protest, he then gunned down the two men.
Eliécer Plicett, a lawyer for the two victims, said Darlington was being charged with murder and illegal possession of a gun, TVN Noticias reported. However, local media has reported he could avoid jail time because of his age.
Why is this in /c/USA? The only relation to the US is that he’s a citizen because of his parents. He’s a resident of Panama who committed murder in Panama
Thank you. If this had been in Florida the headline would have been something like “Patriotic citizen eliminates Disney funded Eco-terrorists at illegal roadblock. Supreme Court rules communication via bullet is a form of free speech and protected by the 1st and 2nd amendments.”