Case Digest (G.R. No. L-21756)
Facts:
- The case involves the People of the Philippines (plaintiff-appellee) against Norman Vinas (defendant-appellant).
- The incident occurred on April 10, 1962, at Bacolod Murcia Sugar Central.
- Jesus Varela was fatally stabbed while urinating beside a tree.
- An autopsy revealed a stab wound that penetrated the peritoneal region and lacerated the vena cava, causing death from severe hemorrhage and shock.
- Norman Vinas, his brother Nelson, and Rodolfo Sumpay were arrested and charged with murder.
- Sumpay, who lived with the Vinas brothers, became a prosecution witness after his charges were dismissed.
- The trial court convicted both brothers of murder, sentencing them to life imprisonment and ordering them to pay P6,000.00 to the victim's heirs.
- Only Norman Vinas appealed the conviction, questioning the credibility of prosecution witnesses and the sufficiency of evidence.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, upholding Norman Vinas's conviction for mur...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court found no merit in the appellant's claims about the credibility of prosecution witnesses.
- Testimonies from Rodolfo Sumpay and Mario Derla were considered credible and consistent, despite minor contradictions typical in eyewitness accounts.
- The close relationship of the witnesses with the accused was noted but did not undermine the reliability of their testimonies.
- Circumstantial evidence, including statements made...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-21756)
Facts:
The case involves the People of the Philippines as the plaintiff-appellee against Norman Vinas, the defendant-appellant. The events leading to the case occurred on the evening of April 10, 1962, at the Bacolod Murcia Sugar Central. On that night, Jesus Varela was fatally stabbed while urinating beside a tree. An autopsy revealed that he sustained a stab wound four inches from the spine, which penetrated the peritoneal region and lacerated the vena cava, leading to severe hemorrhage and shock, ultimately causing his death. Following the incident, the brothers Nelson and Norman Vinas, along with Rodolfo Sumpay, were arrested and charged with murder. Sumpay, who had been living with the Vinas brothers for over two months prior to the incident, was later used as a witness for the prosecution after the charges against him were dismissed. The trial court found both brothers guilty of murder and sentenced them to life imprisonment, ordering them to indemnify the heirs of the deceased in the amount of P6,000.00. Only Norman Vinas appealed the decision, while Nelson Vinas did not contest the ruling. In his appeal, Norman Vinas raised issue...