SCRIPT Frustrated Murder People vs. Merin CHARACTERS: Ayn Sarsaba – Prosecution Counsel Antony Presto!a – Prosecution Counsel "aterine #ane Manaran$ – Co%plainant Ricard Alvin &alupta – 'oy(riend o( te Co%plainant )Prosecution *itness+ ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon – Epert *itness Analita /ca%po – ,e(ense Counsel Helen Paulette Tapire – ,e(ense Counsel Iris 0ictoria Merin 1 Accused 2eira Taruc – Epert *itness Caterine 'ool1 &une! – /((ice%ate o( Co%plainant ),e(ense *itness+ #oel Macalino 333333333333333333333333 3333333333333333333333333333333333333 33333333333333333333333333 3333333333333333333333333 3333333333333333333333333 33333333333333333333333333 33333333333333333333333 3333333333 333333333333333333333333 333333333333333333333333333333 333333 C/4RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances.
PR/SEC4TI/& ,ire irect Ea%ina ination ion o( Cater erine ine #ane Manaran$ by Prosecutor Antony Presto!a C/4RT: Call te case. I&TERPRETER: For earin$5 Cri%inal Case &o. 6789 67895 5 Peop People le o( te te P Pil ilip ippi pine nes s vs. vs. Iris Iris 0ictoria Merin. C/4RT: Appearances.
*IT&ESS: Caterine #ane Manaran$5 7? years o( a$e5 sin$le5 a Certi(ied Public Accountant o( te Accountin$ ,ivision o( &estle Pilippines and a resident o( 4nit 698 Astral Apart%ent Padre Faura St. Er%ita5 Manila. C/4RT: itness.
ATT<. TAPIRE: For For te de(ense.
PR/S PR/SEC EC4T 4T/R /R PRES PREST/ T/;A ;A:: Te Te >itn >itnes ess s is bein$ presented to testi(y on te (act tat te accused bou$t te rat @iller and tat te substance tat poisoned er >as (ro% te $rape(ruit $rape(ruit uice >ic te accused prepared. May >e proceed
C/4RT: Ready=
C/4RT: Proceed.
PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: Ready
B: Caterine #ane Manaran$5 >ill you please tell tis Honorable Court >ere you >ere on /ctober 65 7DD at around ? ocloc@ in te %ornin$= A: I >as in our apart%ent at 4nit 698 Astral Apart%ent Padre Faura St. Er%ita5 Manila.
PR/SEC4T/R $overn%ent.
PREST/;A:
For
te
C/4R C/4RT: T: Call Call your your >itn >itnes ess s to te te >itn >itnes ess s stand. PR/SE R/SEC C4T/R 4T/R PREST REST/; /;A: A: May May I call on Caterine #ane Manaran$. C/4RT: S>ear in te >itness. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s>ear to tell te trut5 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case= *IT&ESS:
B: *o lives in tat apart%ent= A: I and %y best (riend5 Iris 0ictoria Merin. B: *o >as >it you at tat particular ti%e o( te day= A: I >as alone because I did not report (or >or@ to prepare (or %y en$a$e%ent party.
B: Ho> did you prepare (or te party= A: I decided to clean te ouse. B: And >at particular areas o( te ouse did you clean= A: I cleaned te livin$ roo% and te CR (irst. Ten I cleaned te dirty @itcen. 'ecause I re%e%ber bered Iris ris said so%etin$ li@e i@e ,u%ada%i na yun$ %$a rodents sa dirty @itcen.G
appe ppearin$ in$ above te print inted na% na%e Caterine #ane Manaran$ as Eibit A16.
o(
C/4RT: Mar@ it. PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: And te si$nature appe ppearin$ in$ above te print inted na% na%e o( Randell Randell Matuloy as te lessor be %ar@ed as Eibit A17. C/4RT: Mar@ it.
B: Te last place you cleaned >as te dirty @itcen= A: ere rats in te place. B: Have you actually seen any rats in your place= A: &o. Actually5 it %ade %e >onder I ust relie relied d on te te >ord >ord o( Iris. Iris. 'esid 'esides es55 in our our lease a$ree%ent5 tere >as a stipulation tat it sal salll be te te o>ne o>ner rs s resp respon onsi sibi bili lity ty to conduct uarterly pest control %easures. B: I a% so> so>in in$ $ to you you tis tis doc docu%en u%entt previo previously usly %ar@ed %ar@ed as Eibit Eibit A. Please Please $o over tis docu%ent and tell tis Honorable Court i( tis is te lease a$ree%ent you are re(errin$ to. A:
B: *ose si$nature is tis above te printed na%e na%e Cat Cater erin ine e #ane #ane Mana Manara ran$ n$ > >ic ic is appe appear arin in$ $ on pa$e pa$e 7 o( tis tis cont contra ract ct o( lease= A: My si$nature5 sir.
PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: *e >ould also li@e to reuest (or te %ar@in$ o( stipulation no.? in tis lease a$ree%ent as Eibit A18. C/4RT: Mar@ it. B: *as tere consistent co%pliance by te o>ner= A: or@5 se told %e not to (or$et to drin@ te $rape(ruit uice se prepared (or %e. B: *ere did you (ind te $rape(ruit uice= A: Inside te re(. B: I( tat tat pitcer pitcer conta containin inin$ $ te $rape( $rape(ruit ruit uice >ill be so>n to you5 >ill you be able to reco reco$n $ni! i!e e it= it= )la> )la>ye yerr ta@e ta@es s te te pitc pitce err so>in$ it to te victi%+ A: as reco reco$n $ni! i!ed ed by te te vict victi% i% as te te pitc pitce err containin$ te $rape(ruit uice prepared by te accused (or te co%plainant. B: *en did you drin@ te said bevera$e= A: 'e(ore I >ent to Starbuc@s.
B: An And d tis tis si$n si$nat atur ure e belo belon$ n$s s to > >o% o%= = )Prose )Prosecut cutor or Presto Presto!a !a pointin pointin$ $ at te ri$t ri$t portion o( te docu%ent+ A: /ur lessor5 Mr. Randell Matuloy.
B: Ho> %any $lasses >ere you able to drin@= A: I dran@ about 7 $lasses.
PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: *ic (or purposes o( identi(ication5 ould li@e to reuest te %ar@in$ o( te si$n i$nature ure
B: Can you esti%ate te a%ount o( uice you dran@=
A: A $lass >ould contain about 8DD18D %2 o( liuid. So5 tat >ould %a@e about JDD1DD %2. B: *at else did you do on tat day= A: I >ent out to %eet Iris (or our usual co((ee brea@ in Starbuc@s at 8 ocloc@ in te a(ternoon. *e spent te >ole a(ternoon to$eter until >e decided to $o o%e (or te party. B: ,id you (eel anytin$ at tat ti%e= ATT<. /CAMP/: /bection5 Buestion is leadin$.
B: So5 i( te accused is inside tis courtroo%5 >ould you be able to identi(y and point to er= A:
HonorK
C/4RT: Sustained. B: *at appened at Starbuc@s= A: *ile >ere eatin$5 I co%plained to Iris tat %y ead >as acin$. B: ,id your (riend say anytin$= A: Se told %e tat I >as ust tired. B: *at ti%e did you leave Starbuc@s= A: ocloc@. B: *at ti%e did you arrive in your apart%ent= A: *e arrived at about :8D ocloc@ in te late a(ternoon. Te dinner party >as set at J ocloc@ tat evenin$. B: *at appened later= A: Te $uests arrived. *e entertained te%. B: *as your (iancLe >it te%= A: it er. B: *at did you (eel at tat ti%e= A: My eadace >orsened. I be$an to (eel nauseous and I vo%ited. I (elt so >ea@ tat I lost %y balance. B: ,id anyone co%e to elp= A: tat Iris >as s%ilin$ >ile se eld on to %e.
Cross Ea%ination o( Caterine #ane Manaran$ by Atty. Analita /ca%po B: Miss *itness5 you testi(ied tat in te lease contract5 te lessor ad te responsibility to conduct pest control %easures. Ho> o(ten is tis pest control conducted= A: Buarterly5 at %onts did te lessor conduct tese pest control %easures= A: February5 May5 Au$ust5 and &ove%ber o( every year5 did you use te rat poison= A: I too@ te pac@ out o( te bo. Ten I put so%e into %y and. I put te rat poison in so%e rice and ten I put te rice on te (loor so tat te rats could eat te%. B: tat a rat poison could also poison u%ans i( accidentally s>allo>ed= A: tat5 you still did not use any protection (or your ands= A: as %y ands a(ter I cleaned te dirty @itcen. B: A(ter cleanin$ te dirty @itcen= A:
A: as uite tired5 as te color o( te uice= A: . B: *en you dran@ te uice5 >at >as its taste= A: It >as sour5 a bit bitter5
B: ere already at te (loor5 >ere you still conscious= A:
B: 'itter= A:
B: *as your si$t still clear= A: A bit blurry5
B: Hindi @a ba na$ta@a at %apait yun$ uice na inino% %o=
B: So you cannot see clearly at te ti%e you (ell to te $round= A: as so di!!y.
PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: /bection: itness cannot understand Filipino. C/4RT: 2et te uestion be translated (or te >itness. I&TERPRETER: ,id you not >onder >y te uice >as bitter= A: &o5 as so sour. B: en se told you not to (or$et to drin@ te uice5 it >as notin$ ne> to you5 because bot o( you ad tat abit. A: it te accused at a co((ee sop. *en you >ere >it te accused5 did you notice anytin$ di((erent about er= A: as tat= A: *en I co%plained about %y eadace5 se ust told %e tat I >as ust tired. B: *ere you not really tired a(ter cleanin$ te entire ouse=
B: So you cannot possibly say tat Iris >as really s%ilin$ >en se eld you= A: I% not sure as tis= A: Around Au$ust 7DDJ5 as te cause o( your depression= A: My parents died o( a terrible accident5 and I bla%ed %ysel( (or teir deat. B: *o >as te doctor >o treated you= A: ,r. 2eira Taruc. B: *ere is er clinic located= A: At te Medical Center Manila. B: *at did tis ,r. Taruc do to treat you= A: I >ent trou$ psycolo$ical counselin$ sessions5 ritin$= A: ent trou$ under ,r.
Taruc= )Atty. /ca%po so>in$ te su%%ary discar$e report to te co%plainant+ A: ic >as previously %ar@ed as Su%%ary ,iscar$e Report at te Medical Center Manila. B: *o prepared tis %edical report= A: It >as ,r. Taruc >o prepared te report5 ill call on our net >itness. C/4RT: Miss *itness5 n. Call your net >itness.
,irect Ea%ination o( Ricard &alupta by Prosecutor Antony Presto!a PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: I% callin$ on Mr. Ricard Alvin &alupta. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s>ear to tell te trut5 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case= *IT&ESS:
C/4RT: itness. PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: Tis >itness5 it i% and %ay li@e>ise be$an to ate te co%plainant secretly. May >e proceed5 te co%plainant= A: are you related to er= A: Se is %y (iancLe. B: ,o you @no> te accused= A: is se related to te co%plainant= A: Se is te cildood (riend o( te co%plainantN o((ice%ateN and tey live in te sa%e apart%ent. B: *ere you a>are tat te accused li@es you= ATT<. /CAMP/: /bection5 Counsel is speculatin$.
Honor.
B: ,o you visit te co%plainant in teir apart%ent= A: o(ten do you visit te co%plainant= A: ,urin$ >ee@days5 >enever I drop er a(ter >or@5 and durin$ >ee@ends. B: *enever you visit te co%plainant in teir apart%ent5 are tere any persons around= A: as tere. B: *en you visit te co%plainant durin$ >ee@end5 >as te co%plainant al>ays tere= A: &ot al>ays5 en you said tat te co%plainant >as not al>ays tere= A: Ses not tere because se >ent out. B: And >enever tat appens5 >o do you (ind at teir apart%ent=
A: Iris5
B: Mr. *itness5 please ea%ine tis tet %essa$e5 and tell te Court i( you reco$ni!e it= A:
B: Mr. *itness5 >at do you do >enever you visit te co%plainant at teir apart%ent and se is not around= A: I >ait (or er to co%e bac@5 at particular part o( te apart%ent do you >ait= A: At te livin$ roo%5 ile >aitin$5 >at nor%ally transpires= A: I >atc te tv or listen to %usic. B: enever te co%plainant is not around durin$ your visit5 Iris >as at te apart%ent5 is tat ri$t= A: ere ti%es tat only you and te accused >ere in te apart%ent5 >ile you >ere >aitin$ (or te co%plainant= A: enever you and te accused are alone in te apart%ent= A: Te accused (lirts >it %e5 en you said se >as (lirtin$ >it you= A: Se >ears revealin$ clotes5 se says I love youG o@in$ly5 %$a $anun. B: ,o you recall o> %any ti%es tese ave appened= A: Many ti%es5
B: *y do you reco$ni!e it= A: 'ecause I received tat tet %essa$e (ro% te accused on Au$ust 65 7DD. B: Tis tet %essa$e purports to ave been sent by te person o>nin$ tis %obile nu%ber5 D6878?D. ,o you reco$ni!e te person >o o>ned tis nu%ber= A: do you @no>= A: 'ecause te %obile nu%ber o( te accused is stored in %y %obile pone5 alan$ %a@i@inaban$ sayoKG )Ricie5 i( I >ont ave you5 no one else >illKG+ B: Mr. *itness5 @indly read te net tet %essa$e. A: A@in @a lan$5 Ricie. Ma%a%atay an$ @ait sinon$ aa$a> sayo.G )ill die.G+ PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: itness.
B: *at do you tell te accused every ti%e se (lirts >it you= A: I dont %ind er o@es.
PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: Tis docu%ent is te printed copy o( te tet %essa$es contained in te %obile pone o( Mr. &alupta. *e >ould li@e to reuest tat it be %ar@ed as Eibit C16.
B: ,oes your (iancLe instances= A:
C/4RT: Mar@ it.
@no>
o(
tese
B: *y= A: 'ecause I told er a (e> ti%es about it. B: *at did your (iancLe say= A: Se said: ,ont %ind er. Ses cra!y.G
B: Ho> o(ten does se send you tis @ind o( tet %essa$es= A: Al%ost everyday5 ere you doin$ durin$ en$a$e%ent party= A: I >as entertainin$ our (riends. B: *ere you near te victi%=
te
A: &o. I >as about ? %eters a>ay (ro% er. B: *o >as >it te victi% >en te incident appened= A: Se >as >it te accused. B: *at did you do >en you learned o( te incident= A: I rused to er. Se >as already lyin$ on te $round. B: *at did you do a(ter>ards= A: I called (or an a%bulance. *e rused er to te ospital. B: Ho> lon$ did you stay >it er at te ospital= A: About (our ours. I >aited (or te doctor to co%e out. B: *en te doctor ca%e out5 >at did e tell you= A: Te doctor said %y (iancLe >as poisoned. PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: uestions5
&o
B: Mr. *itness5 is it possible tat te reason >y Ms. Merin treats you >ell and >it etra s>eetness is because se considers you as a close (riend since you are te (iancLe o( er best (riend= A: as indeed %y client >o sent you tose %essa$es= A: I a% sure it te >ay se constructs er %essa$es. B: Mr. *itness5 does te co%plainant use your %obile pone in sendin$ tet %essa$es to er (riends= A: about you= Are tere ti%es >en you borro> te co%plainants cellular pone= A:
(urter
C/4RT: Cross= ATT<. /CAMP/:
B: So5 is it possible tat Ms. Merins pone as also been borro>ed by so%eone else and it >as not er >o sent you tose tet %essa$es= A: as te one >o sent %e tose %essa$es. ATT<. /CAMP/: &o (urter uestions5
Cross Ea%ination o( Ricard &alupta by Atty. Analita /ca%po B: Mr. *itness5 you ave testi(ied tat >enever you and Ms. Merin are alone in te apart%ent5 se tried to (lirt >it you. Is tat ri$t= A: eetness + B: Ho> lon$ ave you @no>n Ms. Merin= A: I ave @no>n er ever since I be$an courtin$ %y (iancLe since bot o( te% live in te sa%e apart%ent. Tats about (our years a$o. B: *ould you consider Ms. Merin as your (riend= A: 4%%%.
C/4RT: Re1direct= PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: &o5 ill call on our last >itness. C/4RT: Call your >itness.
,irect Ea%ination o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon by Prosecutor Ayn Sarsaba PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: I% callin$ on ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s>ear to tell te trut5 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case= *IT&ESS:
C/4RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances. *IT&ESS: ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon5 7? years o( a$e5 sin$le5 e%er$ency pysician and a resident o( Robinsons To>er5 Padre Faura St.5 Er%ita5 Manila. C/4RT: itness. PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: Tis >itness5 ill testi(y on te (indin$s in te %edico1le$al report prepared by i% to prove te (ollo>in$: )i+ tat te e((ective cause o( te co%plainants condition is ce%ical poisonin$N )ii+ tat te dose ta@en by te co%plainant is necessarily (atalN and )iii+ tat te possible source o( te cyanide poison is te $rape (ruit uice prepared by te accused. May >e proceed5 ere did you (inis your %edical de$ree= A: E%ilio A$uinaldo Colle$e5 4nited &ations Avenue5 Manila. B: *en did you $raduate= A: 69= B: Are you a licensed pysician= A: it te Pilippine -eneral Hospital located in Ta(t5 Manila. B: Since >en ave you been e%ployed in tat ospital= A: I ave been e%ployed tere since 6?. B: *at is your present desi$nation= A: I% presently an e%er$ency pysician in said institution. B: Since you beca%e a licensed pysician5 ave you attended se%inars and underta@en
trainin$ in connection >it te practice o( %edicine= *en and >ere= A: : /ne o( te international %edical con(erences Ive attended >as in S>it!erland last /ctober 7DD called Poisonin$ and ,ru$ /verdose by ,r. 'arry Ru%ac@ and ,r. Allan Hall >o >ere internationally reco$ni!ed eperts in internal %edicine. Anoter >ould be te one eld ust last #anuary in Florida5 4SA entitled E%er$ency Medicine: Practicin$ Accordin$ to te Evidence.
B: Have you testi(ied as a Medical epert in cases be(ore courts o( ustice= A: %any %edico le$al cases so (ar ave you testi(ied= *at @ind o( %edico le$al cases ave you testi(ied= A: For te past years5 around t>o undred )7DD+ cases. Mostly o%icide and %urder cases involvin$ (ood and ce%ical poisonin$5 %edical %alpractice cases and industrial and veicular accidents. B: ,o you recall avin$ attended on one Caterine #ane Manaran$ at te Pilippine -eneral Hospital= A: en >as tat doctor= About >at ti%e= A: About J:8D in te evenin$ o( /ctober 65 7DD. B: ,o you recall o> %any days >as se con(ined to te ospital= A: Se >as con(ined (or one >ee@. B: *y >as se con(ined tat lon$= A: *e %ade sure tat te neurolo$ic and cardiovascular status as nor%ali!ed and acidosis and oter %etabolic abnor%alities ave resolved be(ore >e discar$ed er. B: *ile in te ospital5 did you continue attendin$ on er= A:
B: A(ter er discar$e5 did you reuire er to still see you (or (urter %edications= A: 1up >itin to 6D days a(ter discar$e to reevaluate and %onitor (or onset o( delayed neurolo$ic %ani(estations. B: ,id te patient see you (or a (ollo>1up ,octor= A: 1up= A: &one.
o( 67 cycles per %inute and te%perature o( 8.? de$ree Celsius. Patients s@in >as (lused. B: Could you please eplain tis (indin$ in %ore si%ple ter%s (or an ordinary person to understand= A: Te patient clearly >as in an unstable condition5 or in a very critical condition5 >arrantin$ an i%%ediate %edical intervention5 constant %onitorin$ (or any si$n o( deterioration and (urter evaluation. B: ,o you @no> >at could ave caused tis @ind o( condition= A: My dia$nosis at tat ti%e >as tere >as ce%ical poisonin$.
B: Attaced to te record o( te case is a Medico 2e$al Report issued by one ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon5 is tis te one you are re(errin$ to= )Eibit ,+ A:
B: *y is te condition o( Caterine #ane Manaran$ attributable to poisonin$ rater tan to disease or so%e natural cause= *ere tests conducted con(ir%in$ te eistence o( poisonin$= A: *e did Toin Screenin$ >it te patients blood. It revealed te presence o( trace a%ounts o( cyanide in te blood5 and since cyanide is not nor%ally (ound in our blood and considerin$ its ce%ical nature5 it is poisonous.
PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: For te record5 te >itness as identi(ied te docu%ent previously %ar@ed as Eibit , as te Medico 2e$al Report issued by ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon.
B: So you are sayin$ tat te actual or e((ective cause o( te condition o( te patient is= A: Ce%ical poison5 >ic is ar%(ul to te body or deadly to u%ans.
B: Tere is a si$nature above te type>ritten na%e ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon5 do you @no> >ose si$nature is tis doctor= A: It is %y si$nature.
B: ,id te sy%pto%s >ic appear rese%ble te typical sy%pto%s o( poisonin$ by te alle$ed poison= A: ea@ness5 loss o( consciousness5 (lused s@in5 and unstable vital si$ns – all o( >ic are present in tis case.
B: So ,octor5 >e are assured tat te patient5 co%plainant erein5 is in a ealty state o( %ind= A:
PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: I respect(ully reuest ere: 'lood pressure ?DOD %%H$5 Cardiac rate o( D beats per %inute5 Respiratory Rate
B: ,octor5 >at could be a possible source o( cyanide in tis case= A: 'ased on te istory $iven to %e by te in(or%ant >en te patient >as brou$t to te ER5 possible sources o( cyanide could be any o( te (ood or bevera$e te patient ad in$ested on te day o( te incident. B: History= *at do you %ean by tat ,octor=
A: *e (ill out a (or% called History and Pysical Ea%ination. Contained ere are te -eneral ,ata5 Reason (or te Consult or Cie( Co%plaint5 te History o( Present Illness and te Past Medical History. Relevant ere is te History o( Present Illness. Tis re(ers to te events and activities o( te patient >ic transpired prior to te consultation5 (ro% te onset o( sy%pto%s to te ti%e o( consultation. B: &o>5 you %entioned about an in(or%ant. *o >as te in(or%ant o( te patient in tis case5 ,octor= *as it Miss Merin= ATT<. TAPIRE: /bection5 as te in(or%ant o( te patient in tis case= A: It >as Miss Iris Merin. B: *ould you please tell te Court >at it >as eactly tat Miss Merin told you= A: Te in(or%ant told %e tat durin$ teir co((ee brea@ on te day o( te incident5 te (ood inta@e o( te patient consisted o( tuna sand>ic5 (res $reen salad5 $reen tea (rappuccino5 and durin$ te party5 se dran@ co@e !ero. B: &o>5 %y uestion to you is: Is it possible ,octor tat a $rape (ruit uice can be a source o( te cyanide poison= ATT<. TAPIRE: /bection5 te uestion is leadin$. Court: Sustained. A: Actually5 durin$ te con(ine%ent o( te patient in te ospital (or one >ee@5 said patient %entioned to %e tat se also dran@ $rape (ruit uice. It is possible tat te $rape (ruit uice could be te source o( cyanide considerin$ tat se in$ested te sa%e 8 ours be(ore te onset o( sy%pto%s. B: *at is te %ini%u% letal dose o( cyanide= A: Fatal dose is te s%allest dose @no>n to cause deat: not te s%allest a%ount >ic >ill certainly cause deat. Several scienti(ic studies ave so>n tat te toic tresold dose is D to 6DD%$ o( cyanide in te u%an body.
B: In your opinion5 >as te dose ta@en by te victi% necessarily (atal= A: An analysis o( te patients blood >ould tell us te a%ount or level o( cyanide in te blood. Te patients blood >as (ound to ave 6. %$Od2 cyanide content. 'ased (ro% tis de(initive (indin$5 I can etrapolate tat te a%ount in$ested by te patient is letal or (atal. B: Is tat all5 ,octor= A: As previously stated5 te sy%pto%s o( te patient >ould eventually lead to cardio1 pul%onary arrest )deat+. I( no pro%pt intervention >as done5 te patient >ould ave died. B: *at are you tryin$ to tell us ,octor= A: Te severity o( te sy%pto%s %ay serve as an indication o( o> letal te dose o( cyanide is. /r tat te e((ect o( poisons in te body is usually proportional to te dose ta@en. Te bi$$er te dose5 te %ore severe te sy%pto%s >ill be. B: ,octor5 do you ave any oter (ield o( epertise= A: ill so> you a docu%ent5 previously %ar@ed as Eibit E. Tis is te Toicolo$y Report (ro% te &'I on te results o( teir ce%ical analyses o( te sa%ple ta@en (ro% te $rape (ruit uice in te pitcer and o( te sa%ple ta@en (ro% te rodenticide or rat @iller5 Rat1A1Rest5 (ound in te apart%ent o( te co%plainant and accused. B: As an epert5 can you please interpret to us te (indin$s in tis report= A: Tis report reveals tat te sa%ple ta@en (ro% te $rape (ruit uice as been conta%inated >it rodenticide. It also so>s tat rodenticide as D cyanide concentration. It also illustrates tat te $rape (ruit uice is ence conta%inated >it cyanide. B: ,octor5 ave you (or%ed an opinion= A: It see%s tat te rodenticide as been intentionally %ied into te $rape (ruit uice.
PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: &o %ore uestions5
te patient can not be attributed to cyanide poisonin$ but to so%e oter cause= A:
C/4RT: Cross= ATT<. TAPIRE:
Cross Ea%ination o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon by Atty. Paulette Tapire B: ,octor5 you ave testi(ied tat you also speciali!e in Toicolo$y speci(ically Poisonin$ and ,ru$ /verdose5 ence5 you are an epert in tat (ield5 a% I ri$t= A: en does in$estion o( te cyanide poison cause te onset o( sy%pto%s o( cyanide poisonin$= A: Patients >o in$est potentially (atal a%ounts %ay not develop li(e1treatenin$ sy%pto%atolo$y (or up to 6 to 7 ours (ollo>in$ eposure. B: Sy%pto%s suc as= A: In patients >o do not eperience sudden collapse5 te initial si$ns and sy%pto%s can rese%ble tose o( aniety or yperventilation syndro%e. Early si$ns include eadace. 2ate si$ns o( poisonin$ are nausea5 vo%itin$5 loss o( consciousness5 and a variety o( cardiac e((ects. B: Te patient1co%plainant also testi(ied tat se dran@ t>o $lasses o( te alle$ed source o( te poison – te $rape (ruit uice – at around 7:9 p% and te onset o( te sy%pto%s o( cyanide poisonin$ >as about J:DD p%. Tus5 8 ours ad lapsed (ro% te in$estion o( te alle$ed source )$rape (ruit uice+ be(ore te sy%pto%s developed5 a% I ri$t= A: in$ in$estion= A: een te patients actual case and te establised scienti(ic (indin$s o( cyanide poisonin$= *it tis5 does it not %ean tat te condition o(
B: Are you sure= A: I can say tat it is possible tat te patients condition >as not due to cyanide poisonin$. B: ,octor5 about te source o( te poison5 you only said possible sources5 ri$t= A: ell= A: are o( te istory o( said patient5 tat se ad at one ti%e in te past5 atte%pted to end er li(e due to depression= A:
ATT<. TAPIRE: &o (urter uestions5
PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: uestions5
&o
(urter
C/4RT: Re1cross= C/4RT: Re1direct= ATT<. TAPIRE: &o re1cross5 n. Re1,irect Ea%ination o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon by Prosecutor Sarsaba B: ,octor5 is it possible tat te onset o( sy%pto%s (or cyanide poisonin$ varies (or eac person= Is it possible tat said sy%pto%s %ay appear beyond te nor%al 61 7 our duration= A: Tat is possible. B: *ill you eplain to us o> tat is possible= A: So%e persons possess di((erent levels o( sensitivity to certain substances. Te body %ay acuire tolerance to so%e substances. Anoter >ould be: Te body as a natural de(ense a$ainst cyanide eposure in te (or% o( an endo$enous en!y%e5 na%ely5 rodanese. Tis en!y%e cataly!es cyanide co%plein$ >it sul(ur5 (or%in$ te %uc less toic ion tiocyanate. Te availability o( sul(ur constitutes te rate li%itin$ (actor in natural cyanide detoi(ication. In te absence o( eo$enous source o( sul(ur5 rodanese activity is too slo> to prevent serious toicity or deat. B: Could you eplain to te Court >at you %ean by tat ,octor= A: Even tou$ te nor%al duration is 6 to 7 ours5 tere are so%e cases in >ic te si$ns and sy%pto%s o( cyanide poisonin$ in a patient %ay be delayed and appear beyond te nor%al duration. In te case o( te patient Miss Manaran$5 tere >as a one1 our delay o( appearance o( sy%pto%s because as con(ir%ed in er lab tests5 er body produces abnor%al a%ounts o( sul(ur and as Ive %entioned earlier5 >en tere is %ore sul(ur in te body5 te cyanide detoi(ication in te body is astened5 tus5 te serious toic e((ects o( cyanide >ill be di%inised. 2astly5 te (ood inta@e o( te patient %ay possibly contribute to suc e((ect.
For%al /((er o( Evidence by te Prosecution PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: e are no> restin$ te case (or te prosecution. C/4RT: Ho> do you intend to sub%it your (or%al o((er= PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: *e can no> o((er our evidence5 o persons >ere te contractin$ parties to te lease a$ree%ent. Eibit A18 is te stipulation re$ardin$ te pest control %easures to prove tat te lessor underta@es to conduct te uarterly pest control %easures. Eibit ' is te pitcer (ro% >ic a sa%ple >as ta@en and subected to ce%ical analysis (or te purpose o( provin$ te (act tat te source o( poison >as te $rape(ruit uice prepared by te accused contained in te pitcer. Eibit C consists o( tet %essa$es to prove tat te accused nurtured (eelin$s (or te co%plainants boy(riend. Eibit C16 consists o( printed copies o( te tet %essa$es to corroborate to te (act tat te accused ad been sendin$ several tet %essa$es to te co%plainants boy(riend to %ani(est er obsession.
,EFE&SE Eibit , is te Medico 2e$al Report issued by ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon to prove te (ollo>in$: )i+ tat te e((ective cause o( te co%plainants condition is ce%ical poisonin$N )ii+ tat te dose ta@en by te co%plainant is necessarily (atalN and )iii+ tat te possible source o( cyanide poison is te $rape(ruit uice prepared by te accused. Eibit ,16 is te si$nature o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon to be a part o( is testi%ony tat e >as te attendin$ pysician o( te co%plainant. Eibit E is te Toicolo$y Report o( te &ational 'ureau o( Investi$ation to prove te ce%ical analysis o( te sa%ple ta@en (ro% te pitcer (or ualitative and uantitative deter%ination o( te poison. Eibit F is te 'o o( Rat "iller to prove te source o( te poison >ic >as bou$t by te accused. C/4RT: Any co%%ent= ATT<. /CAMP/: As to Eibits A5 A165 A17 and A18 >e ad%it te eistence and autenticity5
,irect Ea%ination o( ,r.2eira Taruc by Atty. Helen Paulette Tapire ATT<. TAPIRE: For te de(ense5 >e are ready to present our (irst >itness5 ear to tell te trut5 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case= *IT&ESS: itness is presented to testi(y on te %edical records o( te co%plainant >o under>ent several counselin$ sessions under er supervision and to prove te %ental and e%otional instability o( te co%plainant. May >e proceed5
As to Eibit '5 >e ad%it its eistence but not its purpose. As to Eibits C and C165 >e can only ad%it as to te eistence o( te tet %essa$es but not its autenticity. As to Eibit , and ,165 >e ad%it te eistence and autenticity5
B: *en >ere you ad%itted to te practice o( %edicine= A: In 65 at university or colle$e did you $raduate and >en= A: I $raduated (ro% te 4niversity o( Santo To%as in te year 69.
As to Eibit E5 >e ad%it its autenticity and $enuineness.
B: ,id you $raduate >it onors= A:
As to Eibit F5 >e ad%it its eistence but not its purpose.
B: ,o you ave any post1$raduate de$ree= A:
C/4RT: Actin$ on te (or%al o((er o( eibits o( te prosecutor and co%%ents tereon by te de(ense counsel5 te Court resolves to ad%it all te eibits o((ered by te de(ense counsel speci(ied in te o((er.
B: Since >en ave you been practicin$ as a psyciatrist= A: For al%ost 6D years5 or@ as a psyciatrist=
A: As a psyciatrist I deal >it te dia$nosis5 treat%ent and prevention o( %ental and e%otional illness and beavioral disorders o( patients. B: Ho> do you treat your patients= A: I listen and tal@ to patients about teir %ental5 e%otional or beavioral proble%s and assess te status o( tese disorders. I also prescribe %edications5 co$nitive terapy5 beavioral terapy or psycolo$ical counselin$ dependin$ on te patients needs.
A: Te pysical ea%inations revealed sleepin$ apnea5 inso%nia5 ypertension5 and %i$raines. B: As to er e%otional condition= A: Te patient is su((erin$ (ro% %aor depression5 >itout psycotic (eatures. B: ,id you tal@ to anyone else re$ardin$ te patients e%otional condition= A:
B: ,o you @no> te co%plainant in tis case= A:
B: *o else did you tal@ to about er e%otional condition= A: I spo@e to er (riend5 te one >o advised te patient to see@ elp. Tis >as part o( te analysis o( te patients condition.
B: *y do you @no> er= A: Se >as %y patient at te Psyciatry ,epart%ent o( Medical Center Manila.
B: Any oter tests tat you conducted on te patient= A: &o %ore5
B: *en >as tis= A: Au$ust 6J5 7DDJ.
B: ,octor5 (ro% te ea%inations and observations5 >at did you conclude about te co%plainants condition= A: Te patient (ro% su((ered (ro% sin$le episode depression.
B: For >at reason did se co%e to your clinic= A: Se consulted %e about er condition. B: *as te consultation out o( er o>n volition= A: &o. Se >as advised by er (riend. B: ,octor5 >at procedures or tests did you conduct on te co%plainant durin$ te consultation= A: I conducted pysical ea%inations. I as@ed er to tell so%etin$ about er5 er >or@5 er (a%ily5 and oter personal relationsips. I ust listened to >atever se said. *ile se >as tal@in$5 I observed er de%eanor5 te >ay se spo@e5 and er $estures. B: *at did you notice about te co%plainant >ile se >as tal@in$ to you= A: At (irst5 te patient >as apparently nor%al. 'ut >en se be$an tal@in$ about er (a%ily5 particularly er parents5 se be$an to sob5 and ten se cried. Her ands >ere tre%blin$. Se bla%ed ersel( (or te deat o( er parents. B: *at %atters >ere revealed to you by te co%plainant in te course o( te consultation=
B: *ill you eplain to tis Court >at tat condition %eant= A: Sin$le episode depression or SE, is a type o( %aor depression tat occurs once5 as a result o( a sin$le psycolo$ical trau%a. In te case o( te patient5 based on our conversations5 te only trau%atic event >ic caused te depression >as te terrible accident and deat o( er parents. B: *at %ade you conclude tat te patient >as su((erin$ (ro% tis condition= A: Te sy%pto%s o( SE,5 >ic include inso%nia5 loss o( appetite5 >ic %ay5 or %ay not lead to >ei$t loss5 %ood s>in$s and ypnotic spells5 %atced >it te results o( te patients pysical ea%ination. B: Ho> did you treat te patient= A: Te patient >as ad%itted to te ospital as inpatient. B: Ho> lon$ did se stay at te ospital= A: /ne %ont5 at %etods or procedures did you use to treat te patient=
A: I conducted supportive counselin$5 at supportive counselin$ %eant= A: Supportive counselin$ elps ease te pain o( depression and addresses te (eelin$ o( opelessness tat acco%panies te depression. In te case o( te patient5 I tal@ to er about >at appened to er durin$ te past >ee@. I( te patient %entioned a ne$ative event5 I as@ er >at se (elt5 >y se (elt tat >ay and o> se sould ave vie>ed te ne$ative situation. B: And te counselin$ sessions >ere at >at intervals= A: /nce a >ee@5 ere tese reduced into >ritin$= A: ritin$= A: in$ te psyciatric assess%ent+ A: Tat is te report tat I ave prepared5 itness as identi(ied tis docu%ent previously %ar@ed as Eibit 7 as te psyciatric assess%ent record o( Caterine #ane Manaran$.
C/4RT: Mar@ it. B: ,octor5 >o ordered te discar$e o( te co%plainant= A: I ordered te discar$e5 it te condition= A: &o5 en te co%plainant >as discar$ed5 >at >as er condition= A: Tere >as an i%prove%ent in er condition in $eneral5 altou$ se is not co%pletely stable yet. B: *at do you %ean se is not co%pletely stable yet= A: *ile se %ani(ested i%prove%ent5 tere is a possibility o( relapse. B: ,o you %ean to say5 ,octor5 tat te patients condition %ay recur= A: I( un$uarded5 te treat%ent plan5 te possibility o( relapse is i$. B: ,o you %ean to say5 ,octor5 tat5 in te case o( te co%plainant5 tere is a possibility o( a relapse5 considerin$ se did not return to you (or (urter treat%ent= A: ould anoter suicide be also a possibility= A: Tat is possible5
B: In te last pa$e o( tis docu%ent5 tere appears a si$nature. *ose si$nature is tis5 Miss *itness= A: Tat is %y si$nature5
ATT<. TAPIRE: &o (urter uestions5
ATT<. TAPIRE: I respect(ully reuest5
PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A:
C/4RT: Cross=
Cross Ea%ination o( ,r. 2eira Taruc by Prosecutor Ayn Sarsaba B: ,octor5 you testi(ied tat you treated te co%plainant (or sin$le episode depression. Is tat true= A: at >as er condition= A: Se >as e%otionally stable. B: *at %ade you conclude tat te patient >as e%otionally stable= A: ,urin$ our last counselin$ session5 tere >ere no lon$er si$ns o( te SE,. Se no lon$er so>ed si$ns o( %ood s>in$s. Se no lon$er cried >en I as@ed er about te deat o( er parents. Se said se >ould not bla%e ersel( any%ore. B: it te co%plainant lasted (or one %ont. *ill you tell tis Honorable Court >y it lasted only (or suc period= A: Te patient responded >ell durin$ our counselin$ sessions. Te anti1depressant pills >ic I ave prescribed also >or@ed positively on er. B: Te anti1depressant pills tat you prescribedN do tey ave any side e((ects= A: I as@ed te patient >at se (elt a(ter ta@in$ te %edication. Se said se (elt dro>sy5 >ic is a nor%al side e((ect o( anti1 depressants.
B: Are tere any oter side e((ects= A: /ter anti1depressants %a@e a patient restless and anious. 'ut te e((ects really vary (ro% one person to anoter. In te case o( te co%plainant5 te only e((ect >as dro>siness.
A: I( te patient is under several %edications and tey are not (ollo>ed5 a relapse is i$ly possible. And i( te patient does not sub%it to (urter counselin$ sessions >en reuired5 a relapse is also possible. B: *as te co%plainant under %edication >en se >as discar$ed= A: = A: I cannot tell5
&o
(urter
C/4RT: Re1direct= ATT<. TAPIRE: &o5 ill call on our last >itness. C/4RT: Miss *itness5 n. Call your last >itness.
,irect Ea%ination o( "ate &une! by Atty. Analita /ca%po ATT<. /CAMP/: May I call on our net >itness5 Miss "ate &une!. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s>ear to tell te trut5 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case=
B:
*IT&ESS:
B: Ho> i$ are te cances o( a relapse= A: It depends5
*IT&ESS: I a% "ate &une!5 87 years old5 %arried5 an o((ice%ate o( te co%plainant and a resident o( 895 Paco5 Manila.
B: ,epends on >at=
C/4RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances.
ATT<. /CAMP/: Te >itness is bein$ presented to testi(y on te caracter and suicidal tendencies o( te co%plainant. May >e proceed5
B: *at did you do durin$ tat second incident= A: &one. I did not as@ er any%ore because I @no> se >ouldnt tell %e any>ay.
C/4RT: Proceed. B: ,o you @no> te co%plainant= A: er= A: I >or@ >it er at te accountin$ depart%ent at &estle Pilippines. B: Ho> lon$ ave you been o((ice%ates= A: About t>o years.
B: ,o you re%e%ber >at transpired a(ter>ards= A: A(ter about tree days5 I learned o( te co%plainants atte%pt to co%%it suicide. B: Miss *itness5 on #une 775 7DDJ5 did you receive an e1%ail (ro% te co%plainant= A: as te sender o( tat e1%ail= A: It >as Caterine5
B: Ho> >ould you describe er as an o((ice%ate= A: Se is a uiet person5 a loner. B: In te t>o years tat youve @no>n te co%plainant5 >as tere any unto>ard incident >ic involved er= A: &one sir. B: *as tere any ti%e tat you noticed so%etin$ di((erent about te co%plainant= A: as tat= A: I sa> er one ti%e at te co%(ort roo%5 se >as cryin$ >ile starin$ at te %irror. B: *at did you do >en you sa> er cryin$= A: I as@ed er i( so%etin$ >ron$ appened. B: *at >as er ans>er= A: Se said5 I >anna dieKG B: *at did you tell er a(ter se said tose >ords= A: I as@ed er a$ain >at appened B: And >at >as er ans>er= A: Se did not say anytin$5 se ust stared at %e. B: *at >as your reaction= A: I said5 Co%e on5 you can tell %e your proble%s.G B: ,id tis @ind o( incident appen a$ain= A: o days a(ter5 te sa%e incident appened in te co%(ort roo%.
B: Ho> do you @no>= A: 'ecause se used er si$nature5 ritin$5 and please tell te Court i( you reco$ni!ed it= A: Tat is te e1%ail sent by te co%plainant5 itness as identi(ied tis docu%ent previously %ar@ed as Eibit A as te printed copy o( te e1%ail sent by te co%plainant. B: Can you tell te Court >at te e1%ail contained= A: It says: ,ear "ate5 %y parents didnt deserve to die tat >ay. I a% so stupid5 I sould ave died >it te%. I >anna die no>KG B: Ho> sure are you tat tis is te sa%e e1 %ail >ic you received (ro% te co%plainant= A: 'ecause er si$nature appears at te botto% o( te e1%ail5
C/4RT: Cross= PR/SEC4T/R SARSA'A: &o cross1 ea%ination (or te >itness5 your onor.
,irect Ea%ination o( Iris 0ictoria Merin by Atty. Helen Paulette Tapire ATT<. TAPIRE: For te de(ense5 >e are ready to present te accused5 ear to tell te trut5 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case= *IT&ESS: itness. ATT<. TAPIRE: itness is bein$ o((ered to controvert te %aterial alle$ations o( te in(or%ation a$ainst Iris 0ictoria Merin and to testi(y tat due to te co%plainants %ental and e%otional state5 er perspective o( te situation cannot be relied upon. May >e proceed5
A: Se is a cildood (riend. *e >or@ in te sa%e co%pany and >e live in te sa%e apart%ent. B: Iris Merin5 please tell tis Honorable Court5 >ere >ere you on /ctober 65 7DD at around Jp%= A: I >as at te en$a$e%ent party o( Caterine and Ricard. B: Can you recall >at appened durin$ tat en$a$e%ent party= A: I >as cattin$ >it Caterine >ile avin$ a drin@. *e >ere in te @itcen ten. A(ter>ards5 I sa> er oldin$ er abdo%en and vo%itin$. B: *at >ere you drin@in$ tat ti%e= A: I >as drin@in$ %ar$arita5 se >as drin@in$ Co@e !ero. B: Ten >at appened= A: Se dropped to te $round. Se >as so pale and s>eaty. Se lost er consciousness. Ritcie called (or an a%bulance and ten >e brou$t er to te nearby ospital. B: Ho> lon$ did you stay at te ospital= A: I stayed tere overni$t. B: 'e(ore te incident appened5 >ere >ere you= A: I >as at te Starbuc@s >it Caterine. B: At around >at ti%e >as tat= A: It >as around 8p%. It >as %y co((ee brea@ ten. B: ,id Caterine $o to >or@ tat day= A: &o5
C/4RT: Proceed. B: Miss *itness5 are you te sa%e Iris 0ictoria Merin >o is te accused in tis case= A:
B: ,o you @no> te co%plainant= A: er personally= A: are you related to er=
B: *ould you @no> >y= A: Se told %e se >ould ta@e a leave because se needed to prepare (or teir en$a$e%ent party. B: ,id you $o to >or@ tat day= A: at transpired on tat day5
/ctober 65 7DD5 be(ore te incident at te en$a$e%ent party appened= PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: /bection5 at >as Caterine doin$= A: Se >as still sleepin$5 ere you a>are tat te co%plainant su((ered (ro% a %aor depression= A: te reason >y se su((ered (ro% tat depression= A: 'ecause se couldnt accept te unti%ely deat o( er parents. Se bla%ed ersel( (or teir deat.
B: *at did you do to elp er in er condition= A: I >as al>ays tal@in$ to er5 as@in$ er o> se (eels5 I @ept tellin$ er not to be depressed any%ore. I also told er to stop drin@in$. B: A(ter se sou$t te elp o( a psyciatrist5 >at appened= A: Caterine recovered (ro% te depression. Se >as sleepin$ >ell and >as no lon$er drin@in$ o(ten. B: &o %ore si$ns o( te depression >ere present= A: H%%5 so%eti%es se suddenly @ept uiet. Tere >ere ti%es I cau$t er cryin$ silently. ATT<. TAPIRE : &o (urter uestions5
B: *en did er parents die= A: Around May o( 7DDJ. B: A(ter te deat o( te co%plainants parents5 >at appened to te co%plainant= A: Se beca%e inso%niac. Tere >ere ni$ts tat se couldnt sleep. Se also dran@ liuor %ore o(ten. Se be$an to lose >ei$t. Tere >ere also %ood s>in$s5 particularly in te a(ternoon. Tere >ere ti%es tat se >ould ust cry. So%eti%es se ust @eeps uiet and not tal@ to %e. B: ,id te co%plainant re%ain tat >ay= A: lon$ did se re%ain tat >ay= A: I tin@ around t>o %onts5 be(ore se atte%pted to end er li(e. B: *en did se atte%pt to co%%it suicide= A: Around #uly or Au$ust 7DDJ5 at appened= A: Se sou$t te elp o( a psyciatrist. B: ,id you advise er to see@ %edical elp= A: &o5 as a(raid sed say I tin@ ses cra!y. B: ,id you do anytin$ to elp er= A:
PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A:
Cross Ea%ination o( Iris 0ictoria Merin by Prosecutor Antony Presto!a B: In te direct ea%ination5 you told tis Honorable Court tat you >or@ as a (ood toicolo$ist5 o> lon$ ave you been practicin$ tis pro(ession= A: years. B: *at is your speciali!ation= A: I speciali!e in ce%ical analysis o( (ood co%position and toicity o( (ood contents. B: So5 you ave @no>led$e o( di((erent @inds o( ce%icals and (ood substances= A: it rodenticide= A: e use te% (or @illin$ ouse rats.
B: ,o you ave a rodenticide at o%e= A:
poisoned around J ours earlier be(ore se >as brou$t to te Hospital= A:
B: ,o you reco$ni!e tis bo o( rat @iller5 previously %ar@ed as Eibit F= A:
B: *ere >ere you durin$ tat ti%e= A: I >as in te o((ice. I ave >or@.
B: *as tis te pac@a$e tat contained te rat @iller= A:
B: /n te day o( te incident5 >at ti%e did you >a@e up= A: Te usual. :8D AM.
B: *ere you te one >o bou$t tis= A: &o. It >as Caterine >o bou$t it because se intends to clean te apart%ent and to eli%inate te rats at o%e.
B: ,id you >a@e up earlier tan Caterine= A:
B: Miss *itness5 >ere you a>are o( te provision in te lease contract >ic said tat it is te responsibility o( te lessor to conduct uarterly pest control %easures= A: as surprised >y Caterine bou$t rodenticide5 >ell in (act our lease a$ree%ent provides tat >e sould report any co%plaints >e ave to te lessor. B: Ho> lon$ ave you been stayin$ >it te co%plainant in te sa%e apart%ent= A: About ? years no>5 ere you and Caterine stay= A: &one B: ,oes tis %ean tat eiter only you or Caterine prepares te (ood and drin@s tat %ay be (ound in te apart%ent. A: ic are ready to eat or drin@. And so%eti%es i( a close (e%ale relative (ro% te province decides to stay (or a >ile in te city5 >e allo> er to stay in te apart%ent. B: Te ni$t be(ore Caterine >as poisoned5 >ere tere any oter person stayin$ >it you in te apart%ent= A: &one sir. B: So durin$ tat ti%e5 all te drin@s and (ood inside te apart%ent >ere eiter prepared by you or Caterine= A: Most probably5 are o( te (indin$s o( te doctor >o attended Caterine tat se >as
B: ,urin$ tat ti%e5 did you notice any $rape(ruit uice in te re(= A: ays ave so%e stoc@ o( uice. B: ere cildood (riends. *ere you not concerned durin$ te ti%e tat se su((ered (ro% depression= PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: /bection5 as concerned about er5 but @no>in$ er5 se >ould not tell %e o> se (eels because se li@ed @eepin$ tin$s to ersel(+ )Pa$ sustained5 re(or% te uestion to: *HAT ,I, er: I >as al>ays tal@in$ to er5 as@in$ er o> se (eels5 i( se >as o@ay or not.+ B: Miss *itness5 do you @no> te (iancLe o( te co%plainant= A: did you co%e to @no> i%= A: He is te ead security o((icer o( te co%pany >ere I and Caterine >or@. B: ,oes e visit your apart%ent re$ularly= A: en e visits your place= A: &ot at all. I usually $ive te couple so%e privacy. B: ,id you li@e i%= A: &o5
B: ,id you nurture any a((ection to>ards i%= A: &o5 ards your best (riend >en you learned tat se and Ritcie is $ettin$ %arried= A: &o5
&o
and e%otional instability o( te co%plainant and er suicidal tendencies. Eibit 81A is te printed copy o( te electronic si$nature o( te co%plainant to prove te autorsip o( te electronic %ails sent by er. C/4RT: Any co%%ent5 Prosecutor Sarsaba= PR/SEC4T/R PREST/;A: As to Eibit 6 and 61A5 >e can ad%it its eistence and autenticity5
(urter
C/4RT: Re1direct= ATT<. TAPIRE: &o5 n.
For%al /((er o( Evidence o( ,e(ense ATT<. /CAMP/: e are no> restin$ te case (or te de(ense. C/4RT: Ho> do you intend to sub%it your (or%al o((er= ATT<. /CAMP/: *e can no> (or%ally o((er our evidence as ad%itted (or psyciatric treat%ent. Eibit 71A is te si$nature by ,r. 2eira Taruc as part o( er testi%ony attestin$ to te (act tat se >as te psyciatrist o( te co%plainant at Medical Center Manila. Eibit 8 consists o( printed copies o( te electronic %ails sent by te co%plainant to >itness "ate &une! to prove te %ental
As to Eibit 7 and 71A5 >e can only ad%it te eistence but not te autenticity and trut(ulness
&o
rebuttal
C/4RT: Considerin$ tat te public prosecutor >ill not present rebuttal evidence5 te court $ives te parties 8D days (ro% today >itin >ic to (ile teir respective %e%oranda. Te case sall be dee%ed sub%itted (or decision a(ter te lapse o( te said period5 even >itout te said %e%orandu%. C/4RT: /rder.
