A man arrested after the shooting death of a Panamanian lawyer has confessed to the “revenge” killing says Assistant Attorney, Netalí Jaén.
Braulio. Enrique Santen Mendoza, arrested on Friday and confessed to having killed Javier Justiniani because of his handling of the case of his father, who is in prison convicted of theft and drug charges," said Jaén
But the investigation has been expanded. There were other possible scenarios, involving a Colombian citizen who has been identified and was at the office prior to the shooting.
Jaén said that the victim and the killer met in jail when both were prisoners.
Javier Justiniani had been jailed for 42 months on drug related charges, but turned his life around when he finished his sentence and studied law. He was an advocate for prisoners’ rights.
According to the confession, the motive for the killing was revenge.because , he was "dissatisfied" by the defense that Justiniani made in the case in which his father was convicted.
Santen, was arrested on Friday night at the Tocumen airport, where he works as a porter.
Santen, said that, after his father’s conviction earlier this year, he asked Justiniani to handle an appeal, but the lawyer did not return phone calls.
It was then he decided to kill his former cellmate. To commit the murder, he stole a .38 caliber revolver in a house near his home in December 24 township.
He went to the office of Justiniani, located in Juan Diaz, on Wednesday April 28 April in the afternoon. But Justiniani was in Chitre.
The next day after being announced by the secretary Santen stormed into the office and shot Justiniani three times. He died instantly.
Santen said that after committing the crime he drove the taxi in which he fled.
After disposing of the gun and taxi, he went to work at the Tocumen airport, but his nerves did not allow him to work, and he returned home early. He was arrested at 8 p.m.