Case Digest (G.R. No. 108773)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Jesus Jimenez, Julian Jimenez and German Jimenez, G.R. No. 108773, August 15, 1994, Supreme Court Third Division, Melo, J., writing for the Court. The criminal information charged the three Jimenez brothers with murder for the fatal beating of Eustaquio Bacarro on or about September 14, 1983 in Barangay Lanas, Naga, Cebu. The Information alleged that the accused, “conspiring and confederating together and mutually helping each other,” struck the victim with stones causing a skull fracture and intracranial hemorrhage; the complaint also alleged the qualifying circumstance of alevosia and the generic aggravating circumstances of known premeditation and nighttime.Trial initially proceeded against Jesus Jimenez and German Jimenez while Julian Jimenez remained at large. The trial court found Jesus and German guilty and, in a decision rendered November 25, 1985, sentenced them to reclusion perpetua; they accepted the verdict and did not appeal. Years later, Julian was arrested on March 12, 1990 and tried separately. On September 4, 1992, the trial court convicted Julian as principal of murder and sentenced him to reclusion perpetua, ordered indemnity to the heirs of the victim in the amount of Ten Thousand Pesos (P10,000.00), and costs.
Julian appealed to the Supreme Court, assigning errors that essentially attacked (a) the sole prosecution eyewitness, Valeriana Rivera, as uncorroborated, biased and inconsistent; (b) the trial court’s discounting of the accused’s alibi and the testimonies of defense witnesses (including Julian himself and witnesses Jolito Reyes, Felix Jimenez and Engr. Alberto Ceniza); and (c) the sufficiency of the evidence to support a conviction beyond reasonable doubt. The Supreme Court reviewed the trial co...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Was Julian Jimenez’s conviction properly based on the uncorroborated testimony of prosecution witness Valeriana Rivera?
- Did the trial court err in discounting the testimonies offered by accused Julian Jimenez and his defense witnesses?
- Was Julian Jimenez proven guilty of murder be...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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