GR L 2438; (April, 1950) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-2438; April 17, 1950
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. FAUSTO LACAYA, defendant-appellant.
FACTS
Fausto Lacaya was convicted of murder for the killing of Pedro Aves. The deceased’s body, mutilated and in an advanced state of decomposition, was found floating in the Dipolog river on November 12, 1946. He was last seen alive on the night of November 4, 1946, in the company of the appellant and Brigido Loging. The prosecution’s case relied heavily on the testimony of Brigido Loging, who stated that after he left the appellant and the deceased to cross the river, he heard a thud, looked back, and saw Lacaya strike Aves with an iron bar. Lacaya later threatened Brigido to keep silent. The appellant initially denied involvement but later gave a statement implicating the victim’s wife, Sofia Ocupe, and the Loging brothers in a murder-for-hire plot, claiming he was merely a witness. The trial court rejected this defense. Lacaya also attempted to evade arrest and escaped from jail while detained.
ISSUE
Whether the guilt of the appellant for the crime of murder has been proven beyond reasonable doubt.
RULING
Yes. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. The Court found the prosecution’s version, supported by the credible testimony of eyewitness Brigido Loging, more reasonable and worthy of credence than the appellant’s alternative narrative. The appellant’s attempts to avoid arrest and his escape from jail were considered indications of a guilty conscience. The Court agreed with the trial court’s assessment that the defense’s theory of a plot by the wife and the Loging brothers was improbable and unsupported by evidence. The aggravating circumstance of nocturnity was compensated by the mitigating circumstance of lack of instruction, resulting in the penalty of reclusion perpetua.
AI Generated by Armztrong.