Case Digest (G.R. No. 172606)
Facts:
The respondent and accused is Melanio Nugas y Mapait, charged in relation to a killing that occurred on March 26, 1997 in COGEO, Antipolo, Rizal when the victim, Glen Remigio y Santos, sustained a fatal stab wound to the left side of his neck while driving a Tamaraw FX with his wife, Nila Remigio, and their two children as passengers. The Office of the Provincial Prosecutor filed information on June 25, 1997; on April 7, 1998 the information was amended to include Nugas as a co-principal with alleged attendant circumstances of treachery and taking advantage of superior strength; upon arraignment on June 9, 1998 both Nugas and co-accused Jonie Araneta y Nugas pleaded not guilty. During the trial Araneta later executed a sworn statement implicating Nugas and on July 19, 1999 the RTC accepted Araneta’s offer to change his plea and convicted him as an accomplice in homicide with a reduced sentence; the prosecution presented testimonial evidence including identification of Nugas by N...