GR 43940; (July, 1936) (Digest)
G.R. No. 43940 ; July 20, 1936
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, plaintiff-appellee, vs. DALMANI (alias JALMANI) and MARUDI, defendants. DALMANI (alias JALMANI), appellant.
FACTS
The appellant, Dalmani, along with Marudi, was charged with the murder of Luis Dugaduga. The prosecution alleged that on September 10, 1934, at midnight, they entered the victim’s house in Siasi, Sulu, and attacked him while he was sleeping, inflicting fatal wounds. The trial court convicted both accused, finding them guilty of murder with the aggravating circumstance of nocturnity, and sentenced each to reclusion perpetua. Only Dalmani appealed. The prosecution’s case relied primarily on the testimonies of two eyewitnesses: the victim’s widow, Langka, and his 14-year-old daughter, Asuncion. They identified Dalmani as one of the assailants. Dalmani interposed the defense of alibi, claiming he was in Laminuza in the morning of September 10 to buy a cedula, and by 7 p.m. that day, he was in Lu’uk, Jolo, where he remained until his arrest days later. His alibi was corroborated by the municipal treasurer of Laminuza and a councilor from Lu’uk. Notably, the non-appealing co-accused, Marudi, admitted his participation and implicated other individuals (including relatives) in the conspiracy, not Dalmani.
ISSUE
Whether the guilt of the appellant, Dalmani, for the crime of murder has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt.
RULING
No. The Supreme Court reversed the trial court’s judgment and acquitted Dalmani. The Court found that the evidence presented by the defense created a reasonable doubt as to his guilt. While the trial court credited the eyewitness testimonies, the Supreme Court noted significant circumstances: (1) Marudi’s confession implicating others, not Dalmani; (2) the physical impossibility for Dalmani to have been at the crime scene in Sipañgan at midnight if he was indeed in Lu’uk, Jolo, by 7 p.m. the same day, given the considerable distance (over 30 nautical miles) that could not be traversed by vinta in the intervening hours. The Court emphasized the principle that it is better to acquit on the ground of reasonable doubt than to convict a possibly innocent person. Consequently, Dalmani was acquitted.
AI Generated by Armztrong.