Case Digest (G.R. No. 12700)
Facts:
The United States v. Pantaleon Olais, G.R. No. 12700, September 04, 1917, the Supreme Court, Malcolm, J., writing for the Court.The United States (plaintiff and appellee) prosecuted Pantaleon Olais (defendant and appellant) for assault arising out of a nocturnal beating of Vivencio Tercero. According to the trial court's findings, at midnight Tercero was returning from a casa mortuoria to the house of a man named Julian when he encountered two accused and a companion named Braulio; one of the accused, Jacinto Robles, challenged Tercero about his presence at the wake, and a quarrel ensued. The accused Pantaleon (referred to in the findings as Pantaleon Reyes) and the others assaulted Tercero, who fell and was left for dead; his wounds required thirty-five days to heal and caused disabling injury to two fingers of his right hand, and he incurred P10 in medical expenses.
At the trial court level the facts quoted above were found and a conviction was entered (the trial court’s judgment is described in the opinion). On appeal to the Supreme Court, the Court reviewed the sufficiency of the evidence, including the testimony of the injured party and the alibi offered by the defense. The Court applied prior decisions on single-witness proof and on alibi and concluded that the complainant’s positive testimony was sufficient and that the alibi was not established by the defendant.
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction but modified the sentence because the crime was committed at night (nocturnity); it imposed the maximum penalty for prision correccional, apportioned costs, and ordered joint and several indemnity of P62.50 ...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Is the positive testimony of the injured party sufficient to support the conviction beyond reasonable doubt?
- Did the defendant prove his alibi so as to create a reasonable doubt?
- Does the presence of nocturnity as an aggravating circumstance require modification of ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)