Case Digest (G.R. No. 173510)
Facts:
- The case involves Erpascual Diega y Pajares (appellant) as the accused and the People of the Philippines as the appellee.
- The incident occurred on March 17, 1995, in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
- The appellant, a stay-in security guard, was accused of the complex crime of rape with homicide against a 13-year-old girl, referred to as "AAA."
- The Amended Information alleged that the appellant, with lewd intent and through force and intimidation, had carnal knowledge of "AAA" against her will and subsequently killed her.
- The victim was reported missing by her parents after she did not return home from school.
- Her body was found the next day, covered with leaves, showing signs of strangulation and multiple wounds.
- A medico-legal examination confirmed death by asphyxia due to strangulation and traumatic injuries consistent with rape.
- Witness Juanito Manalo III testified that he encountered the appellant near the victim's body, where the appellant threatened him with a pistol and forced him to touch the victim's body.
- Other witnesses corroborated Juanito's testimony, noting the appellant's threatening demeanor and absence from his post during the crime.
- The appellant denied the allegations, claiming he was elsewhere and was falsely accused due to a land dispute with the victim's family.
- The Regional Trial Court (RTC) found the appellant guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced him to death.
- The Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the RTC's decision with modifications regarding civil indemnity.
Issue:
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Ruling:
- The Supreme Court ruled that the appeal lacked merit, affirming the decision of the Court of Appeals.
- The appellant was found guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the complex crime of rape with homicide.
- He was sentenced to...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court emphasized that a conviction can be based on circumstantial evidence if it forms an unbroken chain leading to a fair and reasonable conclusion pointing to the accused as the perpetrator.
- Circumstantial evidence included the appellant's employment at the crime scene, his lewd behavior towards the victim, his absence from his post during the crime, and threats made against Juanito, a witness.
- The Court noted that the prosecution's evidenc...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 173510)
Facts:
The case involves Erpascual Diega y Pajares (the appellant) as the accused and the People of the Philippines as the appellee. The events transpired on March 17, 1995, in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, where the appellant, a stay-in security guard at a plantation, was accused of committing the complex crime of rape with homicide against a 13-year-old girl, referred to as "AAA." The Amended Information alleged that the appellant, with lewd design and by means of force and intimidation, had carnal knowledge of "AAA" against her will and subsequently killed her. The victim was reported missing by her parents after she failed to return home from school. Her body was discovered the following day, covered with leaves, with signs of strangulation and multiple wounds. A medico-legal examination confirmed that she died from asphyxia due to strangulation and traumatic injuries consistent with rape.
Witness Juanito Manalo III testified that he encountered the appellant near the victim's body, where the appellant threatened him with a pistol and forced him to touch the victim's body. Other witnesses corroborated Juanito's account, noting that the appellant had a menacing demeanor and was not at his post during the time of the crime. The appellant denied the allegations, claiming he was elsewhere at the time and asserting that he was falsely ac...