Elvis Javier Quiel, the ex-partner of Paola Chávez (36), was sentenced to 37 years in prison for femicide, which occurred on September 2 in the Alto de Las Praderas area, La Chorrera district, West Panama.
Regarding the outcome of the hearing, lawyer Suky Yard highlighted the work done by the Prosecutor's Office that represented the Public Ministry in the case and expressed her satisfaction with the trial's result, as she recalled that in Panama, the crime of femicide carries a maximum sentence of 30 years.
"I consider that, although the sentence will definitely not calm the pain of the family or bring Paola back to us, it is a harsh sentence for the crime committed, because we cannot ask for more until our country modifies the penal sanctions," she said.
"This is where public policies are needed, through institutions that can help these families and these children, who must be protected by the State," she stated.
Yard explained that since these last two crimes carry lesser sentences, the total sentence was set at 37 years: 30 for femicide and 7 years for the other two crimes.
Yard wondered what has happened or what the Panamanian State is doing regarding the children that Paola left as orphans. She had requested help from the Public Ministry, the Casa de Paz, and even two Lince units of the National Police, which did not respond to her call for help because her body showed no visible signs of the physical, verbal, and psychological aggression she suffered from Quiel, who subsequently took her life.
Quiel was also convicted of the crimes of domestic violence and violation of a protection order, as he did not comply with the measures.
