Family, friends and colleagues protest impunity for photojournalist's slaying

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Teens who killed photojournalist for his cell phone released

Family, friends and colleagues protest

photos by José F. Ponce

Eliécer Iván Santamaría was a photojournalist for El Siglo who supplemented his income by driving a cab. In the wee hours of the morning of April 9, 2008 he was found dying from a gunshot wound in his parked taxi in Panama City's Altos del Rio neighborhood of. His cell phone was missing, but his far more expensive camera was found hidden in the car.

Three youths aged 15 and 16 were soon arrested for that and a number of other robberies, and one of them had Santamaría's cell phone. There were witnesses who placed the suspects near the scene just after the crime and, according to police and prosectutors, there was other evidence implicating those arrested.

However, one of the three accused was held for more than 48 hours without being formally accused of a crime, and due to that procedural gaffe the Juzgado Segundo Penal de Adolescentes dismissed the murder and robbery charges against all three boys. They still face charges for other assaults and robberies and prosecutors are appealing the juvenile court's decision.

On January 7 Santamaría relatives, friends and colleagues rallied outside the Tribunal Superior de Niñez y Adolescencia in Plaza Edison to protest the decision. They were supported by anti-crime and pro-press freedom organizations.

A pro-crime counter-protester threw an egg at the group from a passing car. Police were on the scene but did not pursue the assailant.

The Public Ministry is conducting an internal investigation and may take disciplinary action against those responsible for the error that led the court to dismiss the charges against the youths.