Case Digest (G.R. No. 139971)
Facts:
People of the Philippines v. Ramon Tropa y Torrefiel, Ricky alias Abel Tropa y Torrefiel, and Marlon Tropa y Torrefiel, G.R. No. 139971, January 17, 2002, First Division, Pardo, J., writing for the Court.The criminal action arose from the fatal hacking of Doroteo Flores Tropa on October 10, 1998, the same day his mother, Loriana Tropa, was buried. That evening accused-brothers Ramon and Ricky Tropa drank with relatives, then Ramon armed himself with a bolo, sought a relative named Gamie, and thereafter encountered Doroteo outside his house. According to eyewitnesses, Ramon struck Doroteo and—with Ricky—hacked him repeatedly; Doroteo fell and died from multiple incised wounds, as shown by the medico-legal certificate attributing death to cardiorespiratory arrest secondary to hemorrhagic shock due to multiple incised wounds.
Police Officer Ferdinand P. Relayson filed a criminal complaint with the Municipal Trial Court, Makato, Aklan; after a finding of probable cause the prosecution filed an information for murder with the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Aklan. On December 14, 1998, the three accused were arraigned and pleaded not guilty. After trial, the RTC (Branch 2, Kalibo) rendered judgment on July 20, 1999 finding Ramon and Ricky guilty beyond reasonable doubt of murder, sentencing each to reclusion perpetua and ordering joint and several civil indemnity of P50,000; the RTC acquitted Marlon for failure to prove guilt beyond reas...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Was the guilt of accused-appellants proved beyond reasonable doubt? ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)