Alleged Murderer of Cruiser Arrested in Panama

[Southern Star]

Nick, sorry to hear that you lost a friend. Lets hope that they have the right guy (although even from the limited information that was released, if it wasn't him it sounds as if he's got "some splaining to do, Lucy"). Lets also hope that the Panamanian justice system runs a fair trial and if he is convicted, that he never sees the light of another day as a free man.

Brad

[Bergovoy]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

Nick, sorry to hear that you lost a friend. Lets hope that they have the right guy (although even from the limited information that was released, if it wasn't him it sounds as if he's got "some splaining to do, Lucy"). Lets also hope that the Panamanian justice system runs a fair trial and if he is convicted, that he never sees the light of another day as a free man.

Brad

you seem to leave a lot oof leeway for this guy to maybe innocent, but then dont caveat the punishment.


if the legal system is fair and if they do thier job correctly and if they find this guy guilty and if he is guilty, then maybe he should rot in hell and never see the light of day...

ok, were covered now..

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by capn_billl

Upon reading the article, this doesn't look like the usual randon violence. The accused looks just like a regular guy, but they were in a position as competiters that there could have been some friction between the two. Not really piracy, but it sounds more like a personal vendetta.

That was only the case with one of the victims, Captain Bill. The other victim seems to have been killled to cover up a robbery.

TaoJones

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Bergovoy

you seem to leave a lot oof leeway for this guy to maybe innocent,

As Southern Star should! All fair legal systems have a presumption of innocence. The Accused is INNOCENT untill proven otherwise (and thats not necessarily 'guilty').


And to Nick: Sorry this has happened to your friend. Perhaps you could tell us something of him so we can know him a little.


Mark

[Southern Star]

As Tao points out, it sounds as if J.P. Bouhard was a competitor, but not North. Assuming we can accept the press reports (admittedly a BIG assumption), the following seems to be the case:

1. Martin (the supect) loses his boat (and I am betting that is virtually all he had). A motive for theft/robbery.
2. North hires Martin as crew and disappears. (I am betting that when last seen, North is taking off alone with Martin and the dog).
3. Subsequent to North's disappearance, Bouhard (who admittedly had been a competitor) is shot to death.
4. Long after North has gone missing, Martin is found in possession of North's credit card. Plus a lot of cash. Plus three firearms.

Now some further speculation: I'm betting Martin was down and out after he lost his own boat and asked for the position as crew. I'm also betting no cash was found on North's (or Bouhard's) boats. And I'm betting that one of the firearms found in Martin's possession at the time of his arrest was the murder weapon (and/or, had belonged to one of the victims).

Could Martin have had a vendetta - could he have been wronged and felt that that he was justified to kill both of these men? Maybe (although I am not prepared to speculate about any negative behavior on the part of either victim). But if so, why did Martin end up with the credit card of one of his victim's?

On the face of it, it seems more likely that theft was the motive and fellow cruisers made the easiest and most profitable target. I suspect Martin kept the credit card because he thought the police in Panama were a joke and unlikely to suspect a fellow cruiser.

Sorry, I'm thinking like a prosecutor here. But if Martin did this, I hope he gets nailed!

Brad

[Southern Star]

PS Is that better? Yes, I still hope he gets a fair trial (one that recognizes the presumption of innocence and which requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt). And if PROVEN guilty after a fair trial, yes, that he gets hammered!

Brad

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

And to Nick: Sorry this has happened to your friend. Perhaps you could tell us something of him so we can know him a little.

We got to know Don in the years we spent in Curacao. He was always around, always in for a joke or a joint. He tried to look "non-American", "non-tourist", even changed his boat to Dutch flagged, loved his Skipperke dog, wouldn't hurt a fly, always complained the local girls called him "papa", found out he was a diabetic after calling for help on the VHF one night and cruisers helping him ashore to the called ambulance and yes, the kind of guy who would try to make a buck taking backpackers along. I guess you could say that he sometimes put too much trust in people he didn't know very well.

ps: the backpackers sail along as crew, not as passengers so I don't think chartering status is needed, at least not in Panama or Colombia.

cheers,
Nick.

[Southern Star]

Thanks Nick - he sounded like a good soul. Again, here's to hoping they have the right guy and that he is brought to justice (or something approximating it)!

Brad

[blueayes]

They should feed that Martin punk to the sharks....a piece at a time.
Zero tolerance

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by blueayes

They should feed that Martin punk to the sharks....a piece at a time.
Zero tolerance

Zero tolerance for what?
You had better hope you're never accused of a crime, in a jurisdiction with an attitude such as you've expressed.
Perhaps you should read Southern Star's reasonable comments.

[Ram]

Originally Posted by GordMay

Zero tolerance for what?
You had better hope you're never accused of a crime, in a jurisdiction with an attitude such as you've expressed.
Perhaps you should read Southern Star's reasonable comments.

I second that, in my youth I was arrested for a crime I did not commit and when I went to trial a police officer out right lied to try and get me convicted- in the end I was found not guility-

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Ram

I second that, in my youth I was arrested for a crime I did not commit and when I went to trial a police officer out right lied to try and get me convicted- in the end I was found not guility-

Must have been a California cop imho

[kenny chaos]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

Must have been a California cop imho

I was in San Diego (early 80's) when the cops were shooting anybody for any reason.
Looked down the wrong end of a barrel before but the way this rookie shook was very un-nerving.

[Bergovoy]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

As Southern Star should! All fair legal systems have a presumption of innocence. The Accused is INNOCENT untill proven otherwise (and thats not necessarily 'guilty').


And to Nick: Sorry this has happened to your friend. Perhaps you could tell us something of him so we can know him a little.


Mark

if you read the entire message and not just quote a small tidbit youwill see that the post i referred to confivted the guy and sentanced him... i was tring to keep all things fair...and not bring punishment into the discussion until after the conviction...

[Linda from Ohio]

so sad scarey world