Case Digest (G.R. No. 188979)
Facts:
- Christopher Pareja y Velasco is the appellant; the People of the Philippines is the appellee.
- The incident occurred on June 16, 2003, in Mandaluyong City.
- The appellant was charged with rape of AAA, a 13-year-old girl and sister of his common-law spouse.
- At around 3:30 a.m., AAA was asleep next to her two-year-old nephew, BBB, when the appellant approached her.
- The appellant hugged AAA, kissed her neck, and despite her cries for help, he covered her with a blanket and removed her clothing.
- AAA resisted, and the appellant stopped only when her cries became louder, threatening her with death if she reported the incident.
- Later, AAA confided in her brother, CCC, and reported the incident to the police.
- The appellant claimed he was at home the night before and was at the hospital the next day seeking blood donors for his wife.
- He denied the allegations, asserting that he was coerced into confessing by police officers.
- The Regional Trial Court found him guilty of rape on February 22, 2007, sentencing him to reclusion perpetua and ordering damages to AAA.
- The Court of Appeals affirmed this decision on June 15, 2009.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court ruled that the prosecution did not prove the appellant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt for consummated rape.
- The Court found him guilty of attempted rape.
- The penalty was modified to an indeterminate sentence of six years of prision correccional as minimum to ten years of prisio...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- For a conviction of consummated rape, clear evidence of carnal knowledge is required, defined as sexual intercourse.
- AAA's testimony indicated that while the appellant attempted penetration, he did not succeed.
- Mere touching of the vic...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 188979)
Facts:
The case involves Christopher Pareja y Velasco as the appellant and the People of the Philippines as the appellee. The events transpired on June 16, 2003, in Mandaluyong City, Philippines. The appellant was charged with the crime of rape under an Amended Information, which stated that he unlawfully had carnal knowledge of AAA, a 13-year-old girl and the sister of his common-law spouse, against her will. The prosecution's evidence revealed that at approximately 3:30 a.m. on the date in question, AAA was asleep beside her two-year-old nephew, BBB, when the appellant approached her, hugged her, and kissed her neck. Despite AAA's cries for help, the appellant covered them with a blanket, removed her clothing, and attempted to have sexual intercourse with her. AAA resisted, and the appellant only stopped when her cries became louder. He then threatened her with death if she disclosed the incident. Later that morning, AAA confided in her brother, CCC, and subsequently reported the incident to the Women and Children’s Desk at the police station.
In his defense, the appellant claimed he was at home hauling materials the night before and had gone to sleep. He asserted that on the following day, he was at the hospital seeking blood donors for his wife. He denied the allegations, stating that he was coerc...