Kenneth Darlington will remain in custody; defence desists from appeal

Kenneth Darlington, who was charged with the murder of two people in Chame last Tuesday, will remain in custody after his legal defense gave up appeal over the measures previously ordered by a guarantee judge, reports La Prensa.

On Wednesday, November 15, the High Court of Appeal held the hearing to confirm or modify the precautionary measures ordered by a judge against Darlington, but at the beginning the defendant's defense, by Jorge Ceballos Rodríguez, filed the withdrawal of the appeal requested on pretrial detention.

Judges Adilio González, Greta Marchosky and Irma Palacios welcomed the defence's request.

Among the arguments presented by Jorge Ceballos, Darlington's lawyer, to desist from the appeal, and that the judges of the Court of Appeal were sent by e-mail, are the alleged existence of threats against his client, issued through social networks.

In his brief, Ceballos Rodriguez also claimed that threats have been made against his client's property and relatives, and therefore considered it prudent to desist from the request for a change of precautionary measure.

The hearing took place at the headquarters of the High Court, located in Plaza Conquistador (Panama City), and both Darlington and Ceballos Rodríguez participated in a virtual way.

In addition, the hearing was attended by prosecutor Paula Garcés and the lawyers of the accusing party, representing the relatives of the deceased, Eliécer Pliscett, Daira Bowzón Arosemena and Edgar Batista.

Before the hearing began, relatives and friends of the two people killed in Chame held a protest in the vicinity of the High Court of Appeal headquarters.

Darlington was charged with the murder of the two people on Tuesday, November 7, when they were closing a street in Chame, West Panama, as part of an extended and ongoing eco-terrorism campaign that has resulted in massive losses for the Panamanian economy and immense hardships for many Panamanians.

Darlington faces charges of manslaughter and illegal possession of firearms, which can mean him a penalty of up to 50 years in prison.