The Public Prosecutor's Office in Bocas del Toro is appealing the 12-year sentence handed down to the 18-year  who raped and killed American tourist Catherine Medalia Johannet.

The appeal will  be presented to the Superior Court for Children and Adolescents by Julio Campines, Prosecutor of Family, Minors, and Adolescents in  Bocas del Toro,  who said that the person responsible was 17 years old at the time and he was tried under the criminal jurisdiction of adolescents, the crimes of homicide, robbery, and rape.

Through the appeal, it is expected that the Criminal Judge for Adolescents consider imposing a different prison sentence, since three serious crimes t were committed by the convicted person, said the Prosecutor.

The victim, a 25-year-old backpacker was found dead on February 5, 2017, in the village of Bastimento, on Isla Colón, at the intersection between the communities of Wizard and Red Frog.