John Poulos jailed for 42 years for femicide of Colombian DJ

·

American man John Poulos has been sentenced to more than 42 years in prison by a Colombian court, after he was found guilty of aggravated femicide in the killing of a young Colombian DJ named Valentina Trespalacios.

In Colombia, femicide — the killing of a woman because of her gender — is considered a more serious crime than homicide. Under Colombian law, femicide is often punished with a higher penalty.

The killing of Trespalacios occurred in Bogotá in January 2023, and has since captured public attention in Colombia.

According to accounts from her family and lawyers who took her case, Trespalacios had been in a romantic relationship with Poulos since 2021.

Colombian DJ named Valentina Trespalacios.
Colombian DJ named Valentina Trespalacios.

In a statement after the court ruling on Tuesday, the Office of the Attorney General of Colombia said its prosecutors had proven that Poulos struck and suffocated his partner and tried to hide the body in a suitcase.

The judge imposed a prison sentence of 42 years and eight months – about five years less than what prosecutors had requested.

Poulos has also been prohibited from approaching or attempting to communicate with Trespalacios’ family for 20 years, and the judge ordered that he be expelled from Colombia once he completes his sentence.

Poulos’ defence team has said it will appeal the judgement. It had argued that Poulos was innocent of femicide and that he should instead be tried for homicide, which would carry a lesser sentence.

The victim’s legal team, meanwhile, celebrated the sentence, saying it recognises that Trespalacios was a victim of various types of violence.

Source: CNN.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From crisis to compassion: Timos Roussos and his family’s mercy mission in war-torn Cyprus

When Turkish troops landed on Cyprus on 20 July 1974, six-year-old Timos Roussos was sitting on the floor of his family’s home in Lemesos.

A granddaughter returns: Georgia Georgiou retraces her yiayia’s occupied village in Cyprus

When Georgia Georgiou handed over her Cypriot ID at the border checkpoint to cross into occupied northern Cyprus, she felt an ache.

‘You never get over it’: A childhood shattered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus

On a warm July morning in 1974, 10-year-old Anastasia Di Loreto (née Karatzia) was jolted awake by the sound of bombs falling on Kyrenia.

Cyprus: The paradox of tolerance and impunity for Turkey

The lack of a unified, systematic and practical strategy on the part of Greece has led the Cyprus crisis into national disarray.

Lost homes and lingering hope: Greek-Cypriots reflect on Turkish invasion and its aftermath

From hidden stories to haunting memories, two Greek-Cypriot men share what it means to carry the burden of Cyprus’ past.

You May Also Like

Australian PM announces cabinet reshuffle to shape pandemic recovery

Dan Tehan will take over as Trade Minister under a cabinet reshuffle announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday.

On this day in 1941, Greek author Penelope Delta died

Penelope Delta was an author whose books have influenced generations of Greeks.

Pylos shipwreck survivors file lawsuit against authorities

Survivors of a tragic migrant shipwreck near Pylos in southern Greece in June have filed a lawsuit against the Greek authorities.