Facts:

• In "The United States vs. Francisco Reyes," the defendant was charged with frustrated homicide.
• The incident occurred before March 29, 1906.
• The lower court found Reyes guilty and sentenced him to six years and one day of imprisonment at hard labor, with costs.
• The appellant, represented by Marcelo Caringal, contested the decision.
• The appellee was represented by Solicitor-General Araneta.
• The Attorney-General argued that the facts indicated the commission of lesiones menos graves, a lesser offense under Article 418 of the Penal Code.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

1. The Supreme Court ruled that there was no clear and evident intent to kill on the part of Francisco Reyes.
2. The crime was reclassified from frustrated homicide to lesiones menos graves.
   • Reyes was sentenced to three months of arresto mayor.
   • He received a deduction of one-half of the time already served as a detention prisoner.
   • Reyes was ordered to indemnify the off...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court, through Justice Mapa, emphasized that the principal element of frustrated homicide is the intent to kill, which must be proven clearly and beyond doubt.
• Citing "United States vs. Saturnino Trinidad," the court reiterated that the intent to kill must be so clear and evident as to exclude any doubt regarding the aggressor's real intention.
• In Reyes's case, the record did not provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate a clear intent to kill.
• The court concluded that...continue reading