Facts:

• Elmer Estrada, also known as "Baby," was convicted of murdering Alexander Almendras, nicknamed "Sonny."
• The incident occurred on November 27, 1963, around 11:00 PM outside the Insular Cafe in Cebu City.
• Witnesses observed a flash of gunfire aimed at Almendras, who fell to the ground.
• Police found Almendras dead from a gunshot wound to the chest, causing severe internal damage.
• A bystander, Jorge Cordero, informed the police that "Sonny was shot by Baby Estrada."
• Estrada, along with co-accused Alberto Tejero and others, faced murder charges, including conspiracy and evident premeditation.
• Both Estrada and Tejero pleaded not guilty, claiming an alibi.
• The trial court acquitted Tejero but convicted Estrada, sentencing him to 12 years and one day to 20 years of reclusion temporal, along with monetary indemnity to Almendras' heirs.
• Estrada appealed, and the Court of Appeals found the trial court misapplied the Indeterminate Sentence Law, suggesting reclusion perpetua as the appropriate penalty.
• The case was certified to the Supreme Court for review.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court upheld the trial court's finding of conspiracy among the accused, affirming Estrada's collaboration with his co-accused in Almendras' killing.
• The Court found sufficient evidence to establish evident premeditation in the crime.
• The Supreme Court mo...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court reasoned that conspiracy can be inferred from the actions of the accused, even without direct evidence of a prior agreement.
• Evidence indicated that Estrada and his companions acted with a common purpose to kill Almendras, arriving and fleeing the scene together.
• The history of animosity between Estrad...continue reading