The Law of Self Defense in Panama

[Moderator_02]

Moderator comment: This is dated information, but perhaps worth a read and a thought or two.

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The Law of Self Defense in Panama

08/31/2011 By Boquete Guide

Boquete Guide) Approximately two weeks ago an expat, an ex-policeman from Oregon, living in Puerto Armuelles, was convicted of murder by a 7-0 vote of a jury in David.

There is much discussion as to why this man was convicted. To prevent a reoccurrence in Boquete I asked Lic. Julio Espinosa who is local attorney to speak about the law of self defense in Panama.

To appreciate this and other criminal laws in Panama, understand that unlike most developed countries, in Panama if you are arrested for a crime, you are presumed guilty unless you can prove yourself innocent.

The following is an unofficial translation of the law.

Acts of self-defense that the local courts may find justified are as follows:    

• The existence of an unjust aggression, actual or imminent.
• Using a rational means to prevent or repel aggression.
• Lack of sufficient provocation on the part of one who advocates or is defended
• It is presumed to be acting reasonably in self-defense to repel an attack against you,  when without your consent, a person has entered your residence, dwelling, house or room.

What this means is simple in explanation but never simple if you are the person arrested.

The last, highlighted point first. IF YOU ARE IN THE PLACE YOU ARE LIVING, your home, a home you are house sitting, where you are residing and you act to defend yourself from a person who did not have your consent to enter the dwelling the burden shifts. You are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. It does not cover your car, your front yard or someone you invited into your dwelling.

If this does not apply and you use lethal force, you need to prove the following.

There was aggression against you, actual or imminent and you used a RATIONAL means to prevent or repel the aggression. This section implies that you cannot use excessive force, you cannot shoot someone for hitting you with a fist, repelling a machete attack might be permissible since it is lethal force being met with lethal force. You also must show you or the person you defended did not provoke the attack. Note, the burden of all of this is on the person committing the act. You are presumed guilty if charged.

I can not discuss the case in Puerto Armulles because I do not know all the facts presented to a jury. I will posture this parallel hypothetical situation based upon the accounts of the crime I have heard.

The shooter was a member of a neighborhood watch group. He was watching a neighbor’s house, not residing in it. He witnessed a burglary in progress, armed himself with a shotgun and proceeded to the house. He confronted the burglar, who threatened him with a machete. He shot the burglar, who died waiting for a delayed ambulance. This account, true or not, is the basis for the hypothetical discussion below.

In my untrained interpretation of the law of Panama as stated above applied to the hypothetical shooting in the facts related above. (Note: this is a hypothetical because I do NOT know the facts only the internet chatter) :

1. The shooting did not take place in the dwelling of the shooter.
2. The shooter entered another, unoccupied dwelling with his weapon in an effort to stop a burglary.
3. He was threatened with a lethal weapon and he used lethal force.

It was not his dwelling, he left his dwelling to investigate he was armed. He acted as if he was a policeman, he was not. In doing that, under the law, as I read it, his action of entering the premise armed, could be interpreted as having provoked the machete attack. In that case the the law provides no protection.

You are at home and a neighbor asks you to watch their house. You see a person enter the window, what should you do.

1. Call the police or the Alto al Crimen Hotline 6477-6662  take out your camera and take some photos.
2. Do NOT grab your shotgun and run to confront the burglar.

Crimes against property do not justify death, not in Panama.

Unless you are a police officer in Panama you have no business taking a weapon or trying to stop a crime. The exception is defending another person or yourself, if you or that other person did not provoke the attack. Protecting property even within your own dwelling is not unless you are threatened. The law only changes the presumption of guilt.

I did try a recording of this but I lack the tools to edit it so it is omitted.

If you have additional questions please consult a qualified Panamanian lawyer who is a specialist in Criminal law. Please do not read anything is this post as legal advice, I am not qualified to offer legal advice in Panama and I, not Julio wrote this post.

JULIO CÉSAR ESPINOSA BROWN, ESQ.
ABOGADO
Edificio Don Alejo, Oficina No. 8
(Edificio de la Caja de Ahorros y El Constructor),
Boquete, Chiriquí, República Panamá,
Télefax (507) 720-2941 y Móvil (507) 6677-5077

 

http://www.thepanamablog.com/the-law-of-self-defense-in-panama/

[Gordon Bakke]

Dated, yes. And it fails to mention that Ron McGrew, the expat convicted in this case had the conviction overturned in May of 2012.

[Marcelyn]

Do you know why or how Mr. McGrew’s conviction was overturned?

[Brundageba]

I believe it was because he was not provided adequate translator services through the entire court processes. Fortunate legal loophole.  Possibly someone else might better recall.  Correct me if I'm wrong.

Edited March 1, 2018 by Brundageba

[Brundageba]

Ron McGrew ( according to what I just read on the Don Ray site) had poor legal representation.  Prosecution presented the man as a gringo vigilante killing their children. The jury unanimously convicted him of murder.

After some period of time :

"The United States Government asked the Martinelli Administration to intervene and set aside the verdict citing irregularities. ( possibly the lack of an interpreter as I previously stated)

After about a year in prison, all charges against McGrew were dropped, and Mr. McGrew was ordered to be freed. There was no new trial to be scheduled."

He was VERY fortunate to have gotten off.

 

 

Edited March 1, 2018 by Brundageba

[Bud]

Curious if anyone knows what Ron McGrew did after his release? Did he "move on", stay here, or what?

[Gordon Bakke]

" After about a year in prison ...".  My understanding was that rather than serving time in prison, that he was under house arrest until his conviction was set aside. Mr. McGrew's FB posts from 2011 and into 2012 would seem to bear this out.

[Brundageba]

He left Panama and sort of fell off the map. 

[Penny]

He was advised by many "in the know" people to leave Panama before the trial but he was a stubborn man and chose to stay. A tough decision to make. Some have fled rather than face the Panamanian justice system.