Title
Antonio vs. Court of Appeals
Case
G.R. No. 100513
Decision Date
Jun 13, 1997
Family feud over land led to the murder of Gonzalo Gutierrez; accused convicted despite alibi defense, with eyewitness testimonies upheld as credible.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 100513)

Facts:

  1. Parties Involved:

    • Petitioner: Severino Antonio
    • Accused-Appellant: Carlito Antonio
    • Victim: Gonzalo Gutierrez (brother-in-law of the accused)
    • Prosecution Witnesses: Reynaldo Gutierrez (son of the victim) and Jaime Robles (relative of both the victim and the accused)
  2. Incident Details:

    • On January 20, 1988, in Navotas, Metro Manila, Gonzalo Gutierrez was shot and killed.
    • The accused, Severino Antonio and Carlito Antonio, along with two others (Oryo and John Doe), were charged with murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
    • The prosecution alleged that the accused conspired to kill Gonzalo Gutierrez due to a family feud over land ownership in the Antonio compound.
  3. Trial Proceedings:

    • Severino Antonio was arrested and tried separately, as Carlito Antonio was abroad at the time.
    • Severino was found guilty of murder by the Regional Trial Court (RTC) and sentenced to 12-17 years of imprisonment. The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision but modified the penalty to 15-20 years.
    • Carlito Antonio was later arrested, tried, and also found guilty of murder by the RTC, sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
  4. Evidence Presented:

    • Prosecution: Eyewitnesses Reynaldo Gutierrez and Jaime Robles testified that Carlito shot Gonzalo in the back, and Severino and Oryo dragged the victim, forcing him to kneel. Carlito then shot Gonzalo in the head and neck.
    • Defense: Carlito claimed alibi, stating he was in Manila at the time of the incident.
  5. Medical Findings:

    • Dr. Benjamin Dizon, who conducted the autopsy, confirmed that Gonzalo died from multiple gunshot wounds to the head, neck, and back.

Issue:

  1. Credibility of Witnesses:

    • Whether the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses (Reynaldo Gutierrez and Jaime Robles) were credible despite alleged inconsistencies with the medical findings.
  2. Delay in Reporting:

    • Whether the delay in reporting the crime to the police affected the credibility of the prosecution witnesses.
  3. Demurrer to Evidence:

    • Whether the trial court erred in denying Carlito Antonio’s demurrer to evidence.
  4. Motive for the Killing:

    • Whether the prosecution sufficiently established the motive for the killing.
  5. Alibi Defense:

    • Whether Carlito Antonio’s alibi defense was valid.

Ruling:

  1. Credibility of Witnesses:

    • The Court upheld the credibility of the prosecution witnesses, stating that minor inconsistencies in their testimonies did not affect their overall reliability. The trial court’s findings on witness credibility were given great weight.
  2. Delay in Reporting:

    • The Court ruled that the delay in reporting the crime was reasonable and did not impair the credibility of the witnesses. Witnesses often hesitate to report crimes due to fear or reluctance to get involved.
  3. Demurrer to Evidence:

    • The Court found no error in the trial court’s denial of Carlito Antonio’s demurrer to evidence. The prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to establish a prima facie case.
  4. Motive for the Killing:

    • The Court held that motive, while not essential for conviction, was sufficiently established through the testimony of Reynaldo Gutierrez, who stated that the killing was motivated by a family feud over land ownership.
  5. Alibi Defense:

    • The Court rejected Carlito Antonio’s alibi defense, stating that it was not physically impossible for him to be at the crime scene. Positive identification by eyewitnesses prevailed over his alibi.

Ratio:

  1. Credibility of Witnesses:

    • The Court emphasized that minor inconsistencies in witness testimonies do not undermine their credibility, especially in cases involving traumatic events. The trial court’s assessment of witness credibility is generally binding on appellate courts.
  2. Delay in Reporting:

    • Delay in reporting a crime does not automatically discredit witnesses, especially when the delay is adequately explained. Witnesses may hesitate due to fear or reluctance to get involved in legal proceedings.
  3. Demurrer to Evidence:

    • A demurrer to evidence should be denied if the prosecution presents sufficient evidence to establish the elements of the crime. The trial court’s discretion in denying the demurrer was upheld.
  4. Motive for the Killing:

    • While motive is not a necessary element for conviction, it can strengthen the prosecution’s case. In this case, the family feud over land ownership provided a plausible motive for the killing.
  5. Alibi Defense:

    • For an alibi defense to succeed, the accused must prove that it was physically impossible for them to be at the crime scene. Carlito Antonio failed to meet this burden, and his alibi was outweighed by the positive identification of eyewitnesses.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court dismissed Severino Antonio’s petition for review and affirmed Carlito Antonio’s conviction for murder. The civil indemnity was increased to P50,000.00 in line with prevailing jurisprudence.


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