Teenager, two men, charged with homicide of NZ man killed in Panama

May 5, 2019

Alan Culverwell and his family were about to start the long journey home when attackers came on board.

A teenager has been sentenced to provisional detention after being charged with the aggravated intentional homicide of New Zealand man, Alan Culverwell in Panama, according to news outlet TVN Noticias. 

On the verified Twitter account of Panama’s Attorney General, a tweet today announced: "A teenager was sentenced to provisional detention in Columbus, for the crime against life and Personal integrity, (aggravated intentional homicide), committed to the detriment of Alan Grenfell Culverwell.

"The juvenile prosecutor's Office has a year to carry out the investigation."

Reuters reports that two other men arrested over the incident have also been charged with aggravated homicide, robbery, criminal association and mistreatment of a minor.

Mr Culverwell, of Picton, died after being shot in an apparent attack by armed robbers in Panama.

The incident happened on Thursday (local time). 

Mr Culverwell, 60, had been in Panama with his wife and two twin children, a boy and girl who are aged 11 years.

Mr Culverwell’s wife Derryn was injured by a machete during the attack and has had her shoulder stitched up, Mr Culverwell's sister, Derryn Hughes told 1 NEWS.

Mrs Hughes said her niece received a blow to the head and hand and her nephew was unharmed.

Both mother and daughter are in a stable but “sore” condition, Mrs Hughes said, adding the whole family is “shaken” by what happened and are recovering in a hotel in Colón.

Mrs Hughes said the attack was “so quick and dark and disorientating” the family don’t know how many offenders were there.

Mr Culverwell was shot at close-range, she said.

Meanwhile, over $20,000 has been raised to help the family of Mr Culverwell.

A GoFundMe page set up for the family had a target of $20,000 and has raised just over that in one day.

Ms Hughes told 1 NEWS her family is very grateful for the generosity of those who have donated and sent messages of support and sympathy.

"It has been outstanding. The messages do count and they do help them," she said.


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