In a landmark case that drew widespread international attention, American citizen John Poulos has been sentenced to 42 years in a Colombian prison for the murder of DJ Valentina Trespalacios. The verdict was handed down after a trial that captivated both local and global audiences, highlighting ongoing issues of violence against women.

Poulos was arrested in January 2023 while trying to flee from Panama to Turkey. He was subsequently deported to Colombia to face charges. The shocking details of the crime revealed that Poulos had beaten and suffocated Trespalacios in a jealous rage before hiding her body in a suitcase. This suitcase was later discovered in a garbage container in the west of Bogotá, after security camera footage showed Poulos leaving his apartment with it.

The judge's ruling, sentencing Poulos to 42 years and eight months in prison, fell short of the term prosecutors had requested by about five years. In addition to his prison term, Poulos was prohibited from approaching or communicating with Trespalacios' family for 20 years and will be expelled from Colombia upon completing his sentence.

The defense team for Poulos plans to appeal the judgment. They argue that he should be tried for homicide rather than femicide, claiming his innocence in the specific charge of femicide. The distinction between the two charges is crucial; Colombia has recognized femicide as a distinct and more serious crime than homicide since 2015. Femicide is defined by Colombian law as the killing of a woman because of her gender and can include various forms of intimate partner violence and honor killings.

Trespalacios was an up-and-coming DJ, gaining recognition and success in music festivals before her life was tragically cut short. Her brutal murder sparked international outrage among women's rights activists. The case also highlighted the broader issue of femicide in Colombia. The Colombian Femicide Observatory reported 612 femicides in the country the previous year, though government records accounted for only 100, showcasing a significant discrepancy in reporting and acknowledging these crimes.

The sentence was celebrated by Trespalacios' legal team, who emphasized that the ruling recognized the multiple factors of violence involved, including psychological and physical abuse. The case serves as a stark reminder of the pervasive issue of gender-based violence and underscores the need for continued awareness and legal action to protect women in Colombia and beyond.

For more details, you can read the full articles from CBS and CNN.