New Zealand Man Killed in Boat Attack Off Panama
IN a rare report of an attack against a pleasure boat off Panama, a family of four saw one member shot and killed and two others injured by three Panamaians on May 2.
The international Maritime Bureau Piracy reporting Centre (IMB PRC) received a distress call from the pleasure boat which was anchored around 1.9 nautical miles East by Northeast of San Ignacio De Tupile, on Panama's Caribbean coast.
The distress call indicated that the boat had been boarded by unknown persons who shot and killed a New Zealand man, Alan Culverwell and injured his wife, Derry Culverwell, and 11-year-old daughter. The remaining family member was unharmed, according to a Reuters report.
The IMB PRC immediately informed the Panamanian authorities who then dispatched a marine police boat to the location to render assistance to the Cayman Islands (UK)-flagged pleasure boat, Aqua Lobo (pictured).
The IMB PRC continued to liaise with the authorities and the victims until the marine police boat arrived on scene and had boarded the pleasure boat.
The injured and the other family member were taken ashore for medical treatment.
On Saturday, May 4, two Panamanians were arrested and charged with murder. The two men were charged with aggravated homicide, robbery, criminal association and mistreatment of a minor in the death of Alan Culverwell after three men boarded the family's boat.
The third suspect, a minor, also appeared in court in connection with the case, however, no further comment was given due to the suspects age.
Sources: IMB PRC/Reuters
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