TAMPA, Fla. — A three-judge panel in Costa Rica has sentenced Bismark Espinoza Martinez to 16 years in prison for the "simple homicide" of Carla Stefaniak.
- Man sentenced in Costa Rica death of former Tampa resident
- Carla Stefaniak was killed in November 2018. She was 36
- Previous stories on this case
Stefaniak, a Miami resident who used to live in Tampa, was in the country celebrating her birthday when she was stabbed at an AirBnB resort property. Martinez, of Nicaragua, was a security guard at the resort where Stedaniak and friends were staying.
Speaking to media after the verdict her father, Carlos Caicedo, said "For me this is another day of frustration, sadness and pain."
The family said they are disappointed that Martinez did not receive a harsher sentence.
Gregory Zwolinski of Tampa was friends with Stefaniak.
He followed the court case on-line.
"There was no way for me to go there and be there for the sentencing but I would have loved to look this guy in the face and watch him get locked away," he said.
He described Stefaniak as "vivacious and memorable."
"Just the most vibrant and loud personality you'll ever encounter. You just walk by her on the street and you'll remember her a week later. Her personality was absolutely amazing. She would do anything for anybody," he said.
Zwolinski said the sentence seems light to him but he is relieved Martinez will be doing time.
"I am happy that this guy is going to serve some time and every day that he's in jail is one day less that he's able to do these things to potentially hurt somebody else out there," he said.
According to media reports in Costa Rica, both the family's attorney and the defense attorney plan to appeal.
The family's attorney said the case should have been a "qualified homicide" rather than a "simple homicide."
For his part, the defense attorney said there is no concrete evidence against his client.