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.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
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.
The protesters have for three weeks been campaigning against the Panamanian government's agreement with a Canadian firm to run Central America's biggest open-pit copper mine for at least another 20 years.
Local media reported that Darlington, who was born in the Panamanian province of Colon, was attempting to drive back to the interior of the country after various errands in the city of La Chorrera when he came across the roadblock.
Road blocks set up by protesters have caused up to $80 million in daily losses to businesses, according to Panama's association of company executives, with schools closed nationwide for over a week and more than 150,000 medical appointments missed.
Officials have urged people to end the protests, though construction workers' and teachers' unions have vowed to continue taking to the streets until the First Quantum contract is annulled.
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