Case Summary (G.R. No. L-8966)
Summary of the Case
The case involves Jorge Sonsona, who was convicted of robbery with homicide against Patricia Sonsona. The Court of First Instance of Cebu sentenced Sonsona to an indeterminate penalty of twelve years of prison mayor to twenty years of reclusion temporal, alongside indemnifying the victim's heirs for the stolen money and her death. The facts emerge from a violent intrusion at Patricia's home, where she was assaulted by Sonsona and an accomplice, leading to her death by asphyxiation caused by strangulation.
Facts of the Incident
Patricia Sonsona, a single woman aged 45, lived alone with a young girl, Lucia Sobrevilla, who often spent the night at her residence. On the evening of April 17, 1947, Lucia was awakened by intruders who were masked, during which Patricia was physically assaulted. Despite her pleas that they were relatives, she was violently struck and subsequently strangled to death by the assailants, identified later as Jorge Sonsona and Eusebio Mejares. Lucia bore witness to these events, observing the robbers' actions, including the theft of a roll of paper bills from Patricia's belongings.
Witness Testimonies
Witnesses, including Lucia Sobrevilla and nearby residents, corroborated details about the events leading to Patricia's death. Carmen Gajo, another witness, encountered Sonsona shortly after the incident and reported a troubling conversation where Sonsona seemingly confessed to his involvement. Authorities later conducted an autopsy revealing Patricia's cause of death was asphyxia due to strangulation, underscoring the violent nature of the crime.
Defense and Alibi
The defense presented an alibi, claiming that Sonsona was aboard a vessel named M/S Virginia en route to Misamis during the time of the murder. Sonsona's witnesses, including crew members, attempted to support his claim; however, the prosecution established that there was no official record of Sonsona's name on the manifest. Following testimony from other witnesses contradicted his account, reaffirming his presence in Cebu around the time of the murder.
Court Findings and Rulings
The trial court found the testimonies from Lucia and Carmen convincing and unimpeached, while the alibi was deemed unsubstantiated due to lack of documentation and discrepancies. The ruling maintained that the prosecution's evidence met the requisite threshold of proving Sonsona's guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Sentencing Considerations
The court considered aggravating circumstances articulated by the prosecution, such as dwelling and abuse of superior strength; however, it ruled out the use of superi
...continue readingCase Syllabus (G.R. No. L-8966)
Case Identification
- G.R. No.: L-8966
- Date: May 25, 1956
- Court: Supreme Court of the Philippines
- Parties: The People of the Philippines (Plaintiff-Appellee) vs. Jorge Sonsona (Defendant-Appellant)
Case Background
- Jorge Sonsona was convicted of robbery with homicide, specifically the murder of Patricia Sonsona, and was sentenced to an indeterminate penalty of 12 years of prison mayor to 20 years of reclusion temporal, along with indemnity to the victim's heirs.
- The incident occurred on April 17, 1947, in Barrio Ocana, Carcar, Cebu, where Patricia Sonsona lived alone, with an 11-year-old girl, Lucia Sobrevilla, occasionally staying with her.
Incident Description
- On the night of the crime, while Lucia was asleep, she was awakened by two men in the house with their faces covered. One man, later identified as Jorge Sonsona, demanded the key from Patricia.
- Patricia resisted, claiming kinship, but was assaulted. Lucia witnessed Jorge and his accomplice, Eusebio Mejares, attack Patricia, eventually choking her to death.
- After the attack, Lucia was threatened to remain silent by Jorge, who was subsequently identified as "Orok."
Witness Testimonies
- Lucia Sobrevilla: Provided crucial testimony identifying Jorge and Eusebio as the attackers and described the robbery.
- Carmen Gajo: Saw Jorge after the crime and recounted his admission of guilt.
- Marcelo Sons