An American man, John Poulos, has been sentenced to more than 42 years in prison by a Colombian court for the aggravated femicide of Colombian DJ Valentina Trespalacios. The tragic incident took place in Bogotá in January 2023 and has garnered significant public attention in Colombia.
Poulos was found guilty of striking and suffocating his partner, Trespalacios, and attempting to conceal the crime by hiding her body in a suitcase and abandoning it in a garbage container in Fontibón, Bogotá. The prosecution presented security camera footage as evidence of Poulos' actions.
During the court proceedings, the judge ruled in favor of the prosecution, sentencing Poulos to 42 years and eight months in prison, slightly less than what the prosecutors had requested. In addition, Poulos has been prohibited from contacting Trespalacios' family for 20 years and will be expelled from Colombia upon completing his sentence.
Poulos' defense team plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that he should be charged with homicide instead of femicide, which carries a lesser penalty in Colombian law. However, femicide is considered a more serious crime in Colombia, often resulting in harsher punishments.
Valentina Trespalacios' legal team welcomed the verdict, stating that it acknowledges the various forms of violence she endured. They emphasized the objectification and instrumentalization of Trespalacios, highlighting psychological and physical violence.
Poulos was apprehended in Panama in January 2023 while attempting to travel to Turkey and was subsequently deported to Colombia to face trial. He maintained his innocence throughout the legal proceedings but was ultimately convicted almost a year and a half after Trespalacios' tragic death.
It is noted that Trespalacios' family will only be able to seek reparations once the conviction is finalized by a second-instance appellate court. The case serves as a stark reminder of the prevalence of gender-based violence and the importance of seeking justice for victims.
