In a verdict that has gripped Panama and drawn international attention, Kenneth Darlington, a 77-year-old former university professor, has been sentenced to 48 years in prison for the brutal killing of two protesters during the nationwide unrest in late 2023. The Attorney General’s Office confirmed the sentence on Tuesday morning, June 11, marking a decisive moment in the country’s response to violence linked to political demonstrations.
Darlington was convicted of aggravated intentional homicide in the deaths of Abdiel Díaz, an educator, and Iván Mendoza, the husband of a teacher, during the November 7 protests in Chame, Panama Oeste province. He was also found guilty of illegal possession of a firearm—a weapon he used to fire on a crowd of peaceful demonstrators blocking the Pan-American Highway. The shocking attack was partially captured on video by journalists at the scene, footage that later became key evidence in court.
According to prosecutors, Kenneth Darlington approached a group of protesters—many of whom were teachers and their family members—before opening fire. Díaz died at the scene, near the entrance to Chame, while Mendoza succumbed to his injuries later in the hospital. Eyewitness accounts and media recordings showed chaos as demonstrators scrambled for safety while Darlington fled the area. He was later apprehended and charged.
What makes the case even more complex is Darlington’s background. Born in Colón, Panama, he had led a life far removed from violence until this deadly outburst. A professor affiliated with Florida State University, Darlington was known in academic circles as a cultured, multilingual intellectual. He spoke four languages, played piano, and had lived in Romania, Spain, and Panama throughout his career. But behind this refined exterior, there was a darker legal history. Darlington had previously faced prosecution for illegally carrying firearms, though he managed to overturn that case on appeal—an unsettling detail now seen in a harsher light.
The killings took place amid heated protests over a controversial mining contract signed between the Panamanian government and a foreign mining corporation. The deal sparked widespread anger, especially among educators and environmental activists, who accused the state of selling out national resources at the expense of local communities. On November 7, tensions boiled over in Chame, where protesters, including Díaz and Mendoza, had been blocking the highway to draw attention to their cause.
The court’s decision to impose a 48-year sentence reflects the severity of the crime and sends a message about the state’s intolerance for violence against peaceful protesters. Legal experts note that given Darlington’s age—77 years—this effectively amounts to a life sentence.
The verdict has been met with a mix of relief and sorrow by the victims’ families, who have called for continued justice for those affected by violence during last year’s protests. Meanwhile, the case has prompted broader debate in Panama over gun ownership laws and the risks faced by those exercising their right to protest.
As Panama continues to grapple with the political and social fallout from the mining contract, the conviction of Kenneth Darlington stands as a stark reminder of the deadly consequences that can arise when public dissent is met with private violence.
