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. ,r. #uan Paolo 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! – /3ce%ate o( Co%plainant ),e(ense *itness+ #oel Macalino 444444444444444444444444 4444444444444444444444444444444444444 44444444444444444444444444 4444444444444444444444444 4444444444444444444444444 44444444444444444444444444 44444444444444444444444 4444444444 444444444444444444444444 444444444444444444444444444444 444444 C/5R C/5RT: Please Please state state your your na%e na%e and oter oter personal circu%stances.
PR/SEC5TI/&666666 ,ire irect Ea%ina ination ion o( Caterin rine #ane Manaran$ by Prosecutor Prosecutor Antony Presto!a C/5RT: Call te case. I&TERPRETER: For earin$7 Cri%inal Case &o. 89; 89;<7 <7 Peopl eople e o( te te P Pil ilip ippi pine nes s vs. vs. Iris Iris 0ictoria Merin. C/5RT: Appearances.
*IT&ESS: Caterine #ane Manaran$7 9 years o( a$e7 sin$le7 a CertiBed Public Accountant o( te Accountin$ ,ivision o( &estle Pilippines and a resident o( 5nit 8; Astral Apart%ent Padre Faura Faura St. Er%ita7 Manila. C/5RT: C/5RT: >our @itness. @itne ss.
ATT>. TT>. TAPIRE: For te de(ense.
PR/S PR/SEC EC5T 5T/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 substan substance ce tat tat poison poisoned ed er @as (ro% (ro% te $rape(ruit Duice @ic te accused prepared. May @e proceed >our Honor?
C/5RT: Ready?
C/5RT: C/5RT: Proceed.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: Ready >our Honor.
: Caterine #ane Manaran$7 @ill you please tell tis Honorable Court @ere you @ere on /ctober 87 9GG at around ocloc in te %ornin$? A: I @as in our apart%ent at 5nit 8; Astral Apart%ent Padre Faura Faura St. Er%ita7 Manila.
PR/SEC5T/R $overn%ent.
PREST/=A:
For
te
C/5R C/5RT T: Call Call your your @itne @itness ss to te te @itnes @itness s stand. PR/SE R/SEC C5T/R 5T/R PREST REST/= /=A A: May May I call call on Caterine #ane Manaran$. C/5RT: S@ear in te @itness. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s@ear to tell te trut7 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case? *IT&ESS: >es7 sir.
: *o lives in tat apart%ent? A: I and %y best (riend7 Iris 0ictoria Merin. : *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.
: Ho@ did you prepare (or te party? A: I decided to clean te ouse. : And @at particular areas o( te ouse did you clean? A: I cleaned te livin$ roo% and te CR Brst. Ten I cleaned te dirty itcen. 'ecause I re%e e%e%ber bered Iris said so%etin$ in$ li lie ,u%ada%i na yun$ %$a rodents sa dirty itcen.J
appe ppearin$ in$ above te print inted na% na%e Caterine #ane Manaran$ as Eibit A18.
o(
C/5RT: Mar it. PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: And te si$nature appe ppearin$ in$ above te print inted na% na%e o( Randell Matuloy as te lessor be %ared as Eibit A19. C/5RT: Mar it.
: Te last place you cleaned @as te dirty itcen? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *at did you do in order to solve te proble% on te rats? A: I used a rat iller7 >our Honor. : *o bou$t te rat iller? A: Iris bou$t it because se told %e tat se noticed tat tere @ere rats in te place. : Have you actually seen any rats in your place? A: &o. Actually7 it %ade %e @onderK I Dust relied elied on te te @ord @ord o( Iris. Iris. 'esid 'esides es77 in our our lease a$ree%ent7 tere @as a stipulation tat it sal salll be te te o@ne o@ner rs s respo espons nsib ibil ilit ity y to conduct Luarterly pest control %easures. : I a% so@in$ in$ to you tis is doc docu%e u%ent previo previously usly %are %ared d 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: >es7 tis docu%ent is te lease a$ree%ent.
: *ose si$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 9 o( tis tis cont contra ract ct o( lease? A: My si$nature7 sir.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: *e @ould also lie to reLuest (or te %arin$ o( stipulation no. in tis lease a$ree%ent as Eibit A1. C/5RT: Mar it. : *as tere consistent co%pliance by te o@ner? A: >es. : *at appened net? A: A(ter cleanin$7 I rested because I $ot tired. I re%e% e%e%be berred tat tat be(o be(orre Iris ris le( le(t tat at %ornin$ (or @or7 se told %e not to (or$et to drin te $rape(ruit Duice se prepared (or %e. : *ere did you Bnd te $rape(ruit Duice? A: Inside te re(. : I( tat tat pitcer pitcer conta containin inin$ $ te $rape( $rape(ruit ruit Duice @ill be so@n to you7 @ill you be able to reco$ eco$ni ni!e !e it? it? )la@ )la@ye yerr ta taes te te pitc pitce err so@in$ it to te victi%+ A: >es7 tats te one. PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: For te record7 te pitcer7 previously %ared as Eibit ' @as reco$ eco$ni ni!e !ed d by te te vict victi% i% as te te pitc pitce err containin$ te $rape(ruit Duice prepared by te accused (or te co%plainant. : *en did you drin te said bevera$e? A: 'e(ore I @ent to Starbucs.
: An And d tis tis si$n si$nat atur ure e belo belon$ n$s s to @ @o% o%? ? )Pro )Prosec secuto utorr Prest Presto!a o!a pointin pointin$ $ at te ri$t ri$t portion o( te docu%ent+ A: /ur lessor7 Mr. Randell Matuloy.
: Ho@ %any $lasses @ere you able to drin? A: I dran about 9 $lasses.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: *ic (or purposes o( identiBcation7 >our Honor7 I @ould lie to reLu eLuest te %arin$ in$ o( te si$na i$natture
: Can you esti%ate te a%ount o( Duice you dran?
A: A $lass @ould contain about GG1. /CAMP/: /bDection7 uestion is leadin$.
>our
: So7 i( te accused is inside tis courtroo%7 @ould you be able to identi(y and point to er? A: >es7 Sir. )0icti% pointed to te accused.+ Tere. PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: Tat is all7 >our Honor. C/5RT: Cross? ATT>. /CAMP/: >es7 >our Honor.
HonorO
C/5RT: Sustained. : *at appened at Starbucs? A: *ile @ere eatin$7 I co%plained to Iris tat %y ead @as acin$. : ,id your (riend say anytin$? A: Se told %e tat I @as Dust tired. : *at ti%e did you leave Starbucs? A: < ocloc. : *at ti%e did you arrive in your apart%ent? A: *e arrived at about <:G ocloc in te late a(ternoon. Te dinner party @as set at ocloc tat evenin$. : *at appened later? A: Te $uests arrived. *e entertained te%. : *as your Bance @it te%? A: >es. : *at appened net? A: I approaced Iris and catted @it er. : *at did you (eel at tat ti%e? A: My eadace @orsened. I be$an to (eel nauseous and I vo%ited. I (elt so @ea tat I lost %y balance. : ,id anyone co%e to elp? A: >es7 Iris cau$t %e be(ore I it te Qoor. : ,id you notice anytin$ else? A: 'e(ore I totally lost consciousness7 I sa@ tat Iris @as s%ilin$ @ile se eld on to %e.
Cross Ea%ination o( Caterine #ane Manaran$ by Atty. Analita /ca%po : Miss *itness7 you testiBed tat in te lease contract7 te lessor ad te responsibility to conduct pest control %easures. Ho@ o(ten is tis pest control conducted? A: uarterly7 >our Honor. : And durin$ @at %onts did te lessor conduct tese pest control %easures? A: February7 May7 Au$ust7 and &ove%ber o( every year7 >our Honor. : Miss *itness7 you testiBed tat in cleanin$ te dirty itcen7 you used a rat poison to ill te rats tere. Is tat ri$t? A: >es. : Ho@ 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 Qoor so tat te rats could eat te%. : >ou did not use any $loves to protect your ands or your sin? A: &o7 >our Honor. : Miss *itness7 did you no@ tat a rat poison could also poison u%ans i( accidentally s@allo@ed? A: >es7 >our Honor. : So7 even i( you ne@ tat7 you still did not use any protection (or your ands? A: >es7 because I planned to @as %y ands a(ter I cleaned te dirty itcen. : A(ter cleanin$ te dirty itcen? A: >es7 >our Honor.
A: >es7 I @as Luite tired7 >our Honor. : &ot ri$t a(ter you put te poison into te rice7 as you ave said earlier? A: >es7 >our Honor. : >ou testiBed tat you dran te $rape(ruit Duice. *at @as te color o( te Duice? A: >ello@. : *en you dran te Duice7 @at @as its taste? A: It @as sour7 a bit bitter7 >our Honor.
: >ou also said tat at te party you (elt nauseous7 and ten you vo%ited and (ell to te Qoor. Is tat ri$t? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *en you @ere already at te Qoor7 @ere you still conscious? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: 'itter? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: *as your si$t still clear? A: A bit blurry7 >our Honor.
: Hindi a ba na$taa at %apait yun$ Duice na inino% %o?
: So you cannot see clearly at te ti%e you (ell to te $round? A: >es7 because I @as so di!!y.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: /bDection: >our HonorO My @itness cannot understand Filipino. C/5RT: 2et te Luestion be translated (or te @itness. I&TERPRETER: ,id you not @onder @y te Duice @as bitter? A: &o7 >our Honor. Te $rape(ruit Duice really as a sli$t bitter taste7 peraps because it @as so sour. : >ou testiBed tat be(ore te accused le(t te ouse7 se told you not to (or$et to drin te Duice. Has se done tis even be(ore te incident appened? A: >es7 >our Honor. 'ot o( us used to do tat. *e o(ten leave (ood and drins (or eac oter. : So7 @en se told you not to (or$et to drin te Duice7 it @as notin$ ne@ to you7 because bot o( you ad tat abit. A: >es7 >our Honor. : >ou testiBed tat at p% on /ctober 87 9GG you %et @it te accused at a coNee sop. *en you @ere @it te accused7 did you notice anytin$ diNerent about er? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *at @as tat? A: *en I co%plained about %y eadace7 se Dust told %e tat I @as Dust tired. : *ere you not really tired a(ter cleanin$ te entire ouse?
: So you cannot possibly say tat Iris @as really s%ilin$ @en se eld you? A: I% not sure >our Honor. : Miss *itness7 ave you ever visited a psyciatrist? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *en @as tis? A: Around Au$ust 9GG7 >our Honor. : *y did you $o to suc psyciatrist? A: I needed treat%ent (or %y depression7 >our Honor. : *at @as te cause o( your depression? A: My parents died o( a terrible accident7 and I bla%ed %ysel( (or teir deat. : *o @as te doctor @o treated you? A: ,r. 2eira Taruc. : *ere is er clinic located? A: At te Medical Center Manila. : *at did tis ,r. Taruc do to treat you? A: I @ent trou$ psycolo$ical counselin$ sessions7 >our Honor. : *ere tis counselin$ sessions reduced into @ritin$? A: >es7 >our Honor. : Is tis docu%ent te record o( te treat%ent you @ent trou$ under ,r. Taruc?
)Atty. /ca%po so@in$ te su%%ary discar$e report to te co%plainant+ A: >es7 >our Honor
C/5RT: >our @itness.
ATT>. /CAMP/: For te record7 te co%plainant as identiBed Eibit 8 @ic @as previously %ared as Su%%ary ,iscar$e Report at te Medical Center Manila.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: Tis @itness7 >our Honor7 Ricard &alupta is presented to testi(y on te (act tat te accused secretly (ell in love and could possibly be obsessed @it i% and %ay lie@ise be$an to ate te co%plainant secretly. May @e proceed7 >our Honor?
: *o prepared tis %edical report? A: It @as ,r. Taruc @o prepared te report7 >our Honor. : Miss *itness7 did anytin$ appen be(ore you visited your psyciatrist? A: I co%%itted suicide. : ,id your psyciatrist prescribe any %edication? A: >es7 se $ave %e anti1depressant pills. : Are you still tain$ tese %edications? A: &ot any%ore7 >our Honor. ATT>. /CAMP/: &o (urter Luestions. C/5RT: Re1direct? PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: &o7 >our Honor. *e @ill call on our net @itness. C/5RT: Miss *itness7 >ou %ay step do@n. Call your net @itness.
,irect Ea%ination o( Ricard &alupta by Prosecutor Antony Presto!a PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: I% callin$ on Mr. Ricard Alvin &alupta. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s@ear to tell te trut7 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case? *IT&ESS: >es Sir. C/5RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances. *IT&ESS: Ritcie &alupta7 G years o( a$e7 sin$le7 ead security o3cer o( te Security Services ,ivision o( &estle Pilippines and a resident o( 9 A$uado St. San Mi$uel uiapo7 Manila.
C/5RT: Proceed. : ,o you no@ te co%plainant? A: >es. : Ho@ are you related to er? A: Se is %y Bance. : ,o you no@ te accused? A: >es. : Ho@ is se related to te co%plainant? A: Se is te cildood (riend o( te co%plainant o3ce%ate and tey live in te sa%e apart%ent. : *ere you a@are tat te accused lies you? ATT>. /CAMP/: /bDection7 Counsel is speculatin$.
>our
Honor.
: ,o you visit te co%plainant in teir apart%ent? A: >es7 >our Honor. : Ho@ o(ten do you visit te co%plainant? A: ,urin$ @eedays7 @enever I drop er a(ter @or7 and durin$ @eeends. : *enever you visit te co%plainant in teir apart%ent7 are tere any persons around? A: >es7 so%eti%es7 Iris @as tere. : *en you visit te co%plainant durin$ @eeend7 @as te co%plainant al@ays tere? A: &ot al@ays7 >our Honor. : *at do you %ean @en you said tat te co%plainant @as not al@ays tere? A: Ses not tere because se @ent out. : And @enever tat appens7 @o do you Bnd at teir apart%ent?
A: Iris7 >our Honor.
: Mr. *itness7 please ea%ine tis tet %essa$e7 and tell te Court i( you reco$ni!e it? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: Mr. *itness7 @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 bac7 >our Honor. : *ere or in @at particular part o( te apart%ent do you @ait? A: At te livin$ roo%7 >our Honor. : And @ile @aitin$7 @at nor%ally transpires? A: I @atc te tv or listen to %usic. : >ou said earlier tat @enever te co%plainant is not around durin$ your visit7 Iris @as at te apart%ent7 is tat ri$t? A: >es7 >our Honor. : So tere @ere ti%es tat only you and te accused @ere in te apart%ent7 @ile you @ere @aitin$ (or te co%plainant? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *at transpires @enever you and te accused are alone in te apart%ent? A: Te accused Qirts @it %e7 >our Honor. : *at do you %ean @en you said se @as Qirtin$ @it you? A: Se @ears revealin$ clotes7 se says I love youJ Doin$ly7 %$a $anun. : ,o you recall o@ %any ti%es tese ave appened? A: Many ti%es7 >our Honor.
: *y do you reco$ni!e it? A: 'ecause I received tat tet %essa$e (ro% te accused on Au$ust 8<7 9GG. : Tis tet %essa$e purports to ave been sent by te person o@nin$ tis %obile nu%ber7 G89G. ,o you reco$ni!e te person @o o@ned tis nu%ber? A: >es7 tat is te %obile nu%ber o( te accused7 >our Honor. : Ho@ do you no@? A: 'ecause te %obile nu%ber o( te accused is stored in %y %obile pone7 >our Honor. : *ill you please read aloud te contents o( tis tet %essa$e? A: Ricie7 un$ indi a %a$i$in$ ain7 @alan$ %aiinaban$ sayoOJ )Ricie7 i( I @ont ave you7 no one else @illOJ+ : Mr. *itness7 indly read te net tet %essa$e. A: Ain a lan$7 Ricie. Ma%a%atay an$ ait sinon$ aa$a@ sayo.J )>oure %ine7 Ricie. *oever tries to steal you (ro% %e @ill die.J+ PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: >our Honor7 (or te record7 tese tet %essa$es appearin$ on te screen o( te %obile pone o( Mr. &alupta7 previously %ared as Eibit C as been identiBed by te @itness.
: *at do you tell te accused every ti%e se Qirts @it you? A: I dont %ind er Does.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: Tis docu%ent is te printed copy o( te tet %essa$es contained in te %obile pone o( Mr. &alupta. *e @ould lie to reLuest tat it be %ared as Eibit C18.
: ,oes your Bance instances? A: >es7 >our Honor.
C/5RT: Mar it.
no@
o(
tese
: *y? A: 'ecause I told er a (e@ ti%es about it. : *at did your Bance say? A: Se said: ,ont %ind er. Ses cra!y.J
: Ho@ o(ten does se send you tis ind o( tet %essa$es? A: Al%ost everyday7 >our Honor. : *at @ere you doin$ durin$ en$a$e%ent party? A: I @as entertainin$ our (riends. : *ere you near te victi%?
te
A: &o. I @as about %eters a@ay (ro% er. : *o @as @it te victi% @en te incident appened? A: Se @as @it te accused. : *at did you do @en you learned o( te incident? A: I rused to er. Se @as already lyin$ on te $round. : *at did you do a(ter@ards? A: I called (or an a%bulance. *e rused er to te ospital. : Ho@ lon$ did you stay @it er at te ospital? A: About (our ours. I @aited (or te doctor to co%e out. : *en te doctor ca%e out7 @at did e tell you? A: Te doctor said %y Bance @as poisoned. PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: Luestions7 >our Honor.
&o
: Mr. *itness7 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 Bance o( er best (riend? A: >esK : >ou also testiBed tat Ms. Merin sent you treatenin$ tet %essa$es. *at is you proo( tat it @as indeed %y client @o sent you tose %essa$es? A: I a% sure >our Honor because I a% (a%iliar @it te @ay se constructs er %essa$es. : Mr. *itness7 does te co%plainant use your %obile pone in sendin$ tet %essa$es to er (riends? A: >es7 so%eti%esK : Ho@ about you? Are tere ti%es @en you borro@ te co%plainants cellular pone? A: >es7 tere are ti%es I use er pone.
(urter
C/5RT: Cross? ATT>. /CAMP/: >es7 >our Honor
: So7 is it possible tat Ms. Merins pone as also been borro@ed by so%eone else and it @as not er @o sent you tose tet %essa$es? A: >esK its possible. 'ut >our Honor I% really sure se @as te one @o sent %e tose %essa$es. ATT>. /CAMP/: &o (urter Luestions7 >our Honor.
Cross Ea%ination o( Ricard &alupta by Atty. Analita /ca%po : Mr. *itness7 you ave testiBed tat @enever you and Ms. Merin are alone in te apart%ent7 se tried to Qirt @it you. Is tat ri$t? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *at %ade you say tat? A: *ell7 I (eel se %ade so%e advances. ) etra s@eetness + : Ho@ lon$ ave you no@n Ms. Merin? A: I ave no@n er ever since I be$an courtin$ %y Bance since bot o( te% live in te sa%e apart%ent. Tats about (our years a$o. : *ould you consider Ms. Merin as your (riend? A: 5%%%K. >es.
C/5RT: Re1direct? PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: &o7 >our Honor. *e @ill call on our last @itness. C/5RT: Call your @itness.
,irect Ea%ination o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon by Prosecutor Ayn Sarsaba PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: I% callin$ on ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s@ear to tell te trut7 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case? *IT&ESS: >es.
C/5RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances. *IT&ESS: ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon7 9 years o( a$e7 sin$le7 e%er$ency pysician and a resident o( Robinsons To@er7 Padre Faura St.7 Er%ita7 Manila. C/5RT: >our @itness. PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: Tis @itness7 >our Honor7 ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon7 @ill testi(y on te Bndin$s in te %edico1le$al report prepared by i% to prove te (ollo@in$: )i+ tat te eNective cause o( te co%plainants condition is ce%ical poisonin$ )ii+ tat te dose taen by te co%plainant is necessarily (atal and )iii+ tat te possible source o( te cyanide poison is te $rape (ruit Duice prepared by te accused. May @e proceed7 >our Honor? C/5RT: Proceed. : >ou declared tat you are a doctor o( %edicine7 ,r. -ascon7 @ere did you Bnis your %edical de$ree? A: E%ilio A$uinaldo Colle$e7 5nited &ations Avenue7 Manila. : *en did you $raduate? A: 8;? : Are you a licensed pysician? A: >es. : *en did you pass te doctors board ea%ination? A: in 8<. : *ere are you presently connected? A: I% presently connected @it te Pilippine -eneral Hospital located in Ta(t7 Manila. : Since @en ave you been e%ployed in tat ospital? A: I ave been e%ployed tere since 8. : *at is your present desi$nation? A: I% presently an e%er$ency pysician in said institution. : Since you beca%e a licensed pysician7 ave you attended se%inars and undertaen
trainin$ in connection @it te practice o( %edicine? *en and @ere? A: >es. I ave attended several trainin$ se%inars on e%er$ency %edicine eld ere and abroad. In (act7 I ave also been invited as a $uest speaer to $ive special lectures on %odern %edical toicolo$y and te %edico1 le$al aspect o( poisonin$. To na%e a (e@: /ne o( te international %edical con(erences Ive attended @as in S@it!erland last /ctober 9GG called Poisonin$ and ,ru$ /verdose by ,r. 'arry Ru%ac and ,r. Allan Hall @o @ere internationally reco$ni!ed eperts in internal %edicine. Anoter @ould be te one eld Dust last #anuary in Florida7 5SA entitled E%er$ency Medicine: Practicin$ Accordin$ to te Evidence.
: Have you testiBed as a Medical epert in cases be(ore courts o( Dustice? A: >es7 %ostly on %edico le$al cases. : Ho@ %any %edico le$al cases so (ar ave you testiBed? *at ind o( %edico le$al cases ave you testiBed? A: For te past < years7 around t@o undred )9GG+ cases. Mostly o%icide and %urder cases involvin$ (ood and ce%ical poisonin$7 %edical %alpractice cases and industrial and veicular accidents. : ,o you recall avin$ attended on one Caterine #ane Manaran$ at te Pilippine -eneral Hospital? A: >es. : ,o you recall @en @as tat doctor? About @at ti%e? A: About :G in te evenin$ o( /ctober 87 9GG. : ,o you recall o@ %any days @as se conBned to te ospital? A: Se @as conBned (or one @ee. : *y @as se conBned 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$ed er. : *ile in te ospital7 did you continue attendin$ on er? A: >es.
: A(ter er discar$e7 did you reLuire er to still see you (or (urter %edications? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *y? A: I advised te patient to ave a (ollo@1up @itin to 8G days a(ter discar$e to reevaluate and %onitor (or onset o( delayed neurolo$ic %ani(estations. : ,id te patient see you (or a (ollo@1up ,octor? A: >es. : ,id you Bnd any neurolo$ic co%plications in said (ollo@1up? A: &one.
o( 89 cycles per %inute and te%perature o( . de$ree Celsius. Patients sin @as Qused. : Could you please eplain tis Bndin$ in %ore si%ple ter%s (or an ordinary person to understand? A: Te patient clearly @as in an unstable condition7 or in a very critical condition7 @arrantin$ an i%%ediate %edical intervention7 constant %onitorin$ (or any si$n o( deterioration and (urter evaluation. : ,o you no@ @at could ave caused tis ind o( condition? A: My dia$nosis at tat ti%e @as tere @as ce%ical poisonin$.
: Attaced to te record o( te case is a Medico 2e$al Report issued by one ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon7 is tis te one you are re(errin$ to? )Eibit ,+ A: >es.
: *y is te condition o( Caterine #ane Manaran$ attributable to poisonin$ rater tan to disease or so%e natural cause? *ere tests conducted conBr%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 blood7 and since cyanide is not nor%ally (ound in our blood and considerin$ its ce%ical nature7 it is poisonous.
PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: For te record7 te @itness as identiBed te docu%ent previously %ared as Eibit , as te Medico 2e$al Report issued by ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon.
: So you are sayin$ tat te actual or eNective cause o( te condition o( te patient isK? A: Ce%ical poison7 @ic is ar%(ul to te body or deadly to u%ans.
: Tere is a si$nature above te type@ritten na%e ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon7 do you no@ @ose si$nature is tis doctor? A: It is %y si$nature.
: ,id te sy%pto%s @ic appear rese%ble te typical sy%pto%s o( poisonin$ by te alle$ed poison? A: >es. Te sy%pto%s o( cyanide poisonin$ are eadace7 nausea7 vo%itin$7 $enerali!ed body @eaness7 loss o( consciousness7 Qused sin7 and unstable vital si$ns – all o( @ic are present in tis case.
: So ,octor7 @e are assured tat te patient7 co%plainant erein7 is in a ealty state o( %ind? A: >es.
PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: I respect(ully reLuest >our Honor7 tat te si$nature appearin$ in Eibit , be %ared as Eibit ,18. C/5RT: Mar it. : ,octor7 please read tis particular entry. )*itness readin$ a portion o( te %edico le$al report+ A: Te patient ca%e in te e%er$ency roo% stretcer1borne7 unconscious and in respiratory distress. Her vital si$ns ten @ere: 'lood pressure G
: ,octor7 @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 ER7 possible sources o( cyanide could be any o( te (ood or bevera$e te patient ad in$ested on te day o( te incident. : History? *at do you %ean by tat ,octor?
A: *e Bll out a (or% called History and Pysical Ea%ination. Contained ere are te -eneral ,ata7 Reason (or te Consult or Cie( Co%plaint7 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 consultation7 (ro% te onset o( sy%pto%s to te ti%e o( consultation. : &o@7 you %entioned about an in(or%ant. *o @as te in(or%ant o( te patient in tis case7 ,octor? *as it Miss Merin? ATT>. TAPIRE: /bDection7 >our Honor7 te Luestion is leadin$O : *o @as te in(or%ant o( te patient in tis case? A: It @as Miss Iris Merin. : *ould you please tell te Court @at it @as eactly tat Miss Merin told you? A: Te in(or%ant told %e tat durin$ teir coNee brea on te day o( te incident7 te (ood intae o( te patient consisted o( tuna sand@ic7 (res $reen salad7 $reen tea (rappuccino7 and durin$ te party7 se dran coe !ero. : &o@7 %y Luestion to you is: Is it possible ,octor tat a $rape (ruit Duice can be a source o( te cyanide poison? ATT>. TAPIRE: /bDection7 te Luestion is leadin$. Court: Sustained. A: Actually7 durin$ te conBne%ent o( te patient in te ospital (or one @ee7 said patient %entioned to %e tat se also dran $rape (ruit Duice. It is possible tat te $rape (ruit Duice could be te source o( cyanide considerin$ tat se in$ested te sa%e ours be(ore te onset o( sy%pto%s. : *at is te %ini%u% letal dose o( cyanide? A: Fatal dose is te s%allest dose no@n to cause deat: not te s%allest a%ount @ic @ill certainly cause deat. Several scientiBc studies ave so@n tat te toic tresold dose is
: In your opinion7 @as te dose taen by te victi% necessarily (atal? A: An analysis o( te patients blood @ould tell us te a%ount or level o( cyanide in te blood. Te patients blood @as (ound to ave 8.< %$d2 cyanide content. 'ased (ro% tis deBnitive Bndin$7 I can etrapolate tat te a%ount in$ested by te patient is letal or (atal. : Is tat all7 ,octor? A: As previously stated7 te sy%pto%s o( te patient @ould eventually lead to cardio1 pul%onary arrest )deat+. I( no pro%pt intervention @as done7 te patient @ould ave died. : *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 eNect o( poisons in te body is usually proportional to te dose taen. Te bi$$er te dose7 te %ore severe te sy%pto%s @ill be. : ,octor7 do you ave any oter Beld o( epertise? A: >es. I a% also an epert ce%ist and toicolo$ist. I speciali!e in Forensic Medicine and Toicolo$y speciBcally Poisonin$ and ,ru$ /verdose. PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: I @ill so@ you a docu%ent7 previously %ared as Eibit E. Tis is te Toicolo$y Report (ro% te &'I on te results o( teir ce%ical analyses o( te sa%ple taen (ro% te $rape (ruit Duice in te pitcer and o( te sa%ple taen (ro% te rodenticide or rat iller7 Rat1A1Rest7 (ound in te apart%ent o( te co%plainant and accused. : As an epert7 can you please interpret to us te Bndin$s in tis report? A: Tis report reveals tat te sa%ple taen (ro% te $rape (ruit Duice as been conta%inated @it rodenticide. It also so@s tat rodenticide as
PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: &o %ore Luestions7 >our Honor.
te patient can not be attributed to cyanide poisonin$ but to so%e oter cause? A: >es. Tat is possible.
C/5RT: Cross? ATT>. TAPIRE: >es7 >our Honor.
Cross Ea%ination o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon by Atty. Paulette Tapire : ,octor7 you ave testiBed tat you also speciali!e in Toicolo$y speciBcally Poisonin$ and ,ru$ /verdose7 ence7 you are an epert in tat Beld7 a% I ri$t? A: >es. : ,octor7 @en does in$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$y (or up to 8 to 9 ours (ollo@in$ eposure. : Sy%pto%s suc as? A: In patients @o do not eperience sudden collapse7 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 nausea7 vo%itin$7 loss o( consciousness7 and a variety o( cardiac eNects. : Te patient1co%plainant also testiBed tat se dran t@o $lasses o( te alle$ed source o( te poison – te $rape (ruit Duice – at around 9:;< p% and te onset o( te sy%pto%s o( cyanide poisonin$ @as about :GG p%. Tus7 ours ad lapsed (ro% te in$estion o( te alle$ed source )$rape (ruit Duice+ be(ore te sy%pto%s developed7 a% I ri$t? A: >es. : 'ut you also said tat sy%pto%s o( cyanide poisonin$ are epected to develop 8 to 9 ours (ollo@in$ in$estion? A: >es. : I( tats te case7 dont you tin tere is an inconsistency o( te duration o( in$estion and onset o( sy%pto%s bet@een te patients actual case and te establised scientiBc Bndin$s o( cyanide poisonin$? *it tis7 does it not %ean tat te condition o(
: Are you sure? A: I can say tat it is possible tat te patients condition @as not due to cyanide poisonin$. : ,octor7 about te source o( te poison7 you only said possible sources7 ri$t? A: >es. : 'y possible7 you %eanK? A: Probable or potential source o( te poison7 Maa%. : Tat te $rape (ruit Duice is Dust one possible source o( te cyanide poison? A: >es. : And tat tere are oter possible sources o( te cyanide as @ell? A: >es. : So7 is it sa(e to conclude7 ,octor7 tat te cyanide poison %ay ave co%e (ro% anoter source considerin$ tat (or tat day7 te patients (ood intae co%prised o( diNerent (ood and bevera$es? A: >es7 tat is possible. : Are you a@are o( te istory o( said patient7 tat se ad at one ti%e in te past7 atte%pted to end er li(e due to depression? A: >es. : Tat se as a istory o( one previous suicidal atte%pt one year (ro% te date o( te incident? A: >es. : In your opinion7 is said (act relevant to te deter%ination o( te cause o( te sy%pto%s? A: >es. History o( any previous suicidal atte%pts7 istory o( te patients %ental condition and istory o( business7 %arital and social (ailures are taen into consideration in cases o( poisonin$. : Is it sa(e to conclude ten tat it is possible tat te poisonin$ is attributable to suicide? A: >es7 >our Honor.
ATT>. TAPIRE: &o (urter Luestions7 >our Honor.
PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: Luestions7 >our Honor.
&o
(urter
C/5RT: Re1cross? C/5RT: Re1direct? ATT>. TAPIRE: &o re1cross7 >our Honor. PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: >es7 >our Honor C/5RT: Mr. *itness7 you %ay step do@n. Re1,irect Ea%ination o( ,r. #uan Paolo -ascon by Prosecutor Sarsaba : ,octor7 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 81 9 our duration? A: Tat is possible. : *ill you eplain to us o@ tat is possible? A: So%e persons possess diNerent levels o( sensitivity to certain substances. Te body %ay acLuire 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%e7 na%ely7 rodanese. Tis en!y%e cataly!es cyanide co%plein$ @it sul(ur7 (or%in$ te %uc less toic ion tiocyanate. Te availability o( sul(ur constitutes te rate li%itin$ (actor in natural cyanide detoiBcation. In te absence o( eo$enous source o( sul(ur7 rodanese activity is too slo@ to prevent serious toicity or deat. : Could you eplain to te Court @at you %ean by tat ,octor? A: Even tou$ te nor%al duration is 8 to 9 ours7 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$7 tere @as a one1 our delay o( appearance o( sy%pto%s because as conBr%ed in er lab tests7 er body produces abnor%al a%ounts o( sul(ur and as Ive %entioned earlier7 @en tere is %ore sul(ur in te body7 te cyanide detoiBcation in te body is astened7 tus7 te serious toic eNects o( cyanide @ill be di%inised. 2astly7 te (ood intae o( te patient %ay possibly contribute to suc eNect.
For%al /Ner o( Evidence by te Prosecution PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: >our Honor7 @e are no@ restin$ te case (or te prosecution. C/5RT: Ho@ do you intend to sub%it your (or%al oNer? PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: *e can no@ oNer our evidence7 >our Honor. C/5RT: Proceed PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: Eibit A is te Contract o( 2ease bein$ oNered to prove tat tere is a stipulation on te Luarterly conduct o( pest control %easures by te lessor. Eibit A18 and A19 are te si$natures o( Caterine #ane Manaran$ as lessee and Randell Matuloy as lessor to prove tat tese t@o persons @ere te contractin$ parties to te lease a$ree%ent. Eibit A1 is te stipulation re$ardin$ te pest control %easures to prove tat te lessor undertaes to conduct te Luarterly pest control %easures. Eibit ' is te pitcer (ro% @ic a sa%ple @as taen and subDected to ce%ical analysis (or te purpose o( provin$ te (act tat te source o( poison @as te $rape(ruit Duice prepared by te accused contained in te pitcer. Eibit C consists o( tet %essa$es to prove tat te accused nurtured (eelin$s (or te co%plainants boy(riend. Eibit C18 consists o( printed copies o( te tet %essa$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$: )i+ tat te eNective cause o( te co%plainants condition is ce%ical poisonin$ )ii+ tat te dose taen by te co%plainant is necessarily (atal and )iii+ tat te possible source o( cyanide poison is te $rape(ruit Duice prepared by te accused. Eibit ,18 is te si$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 taen (ro% te pitcer (or Lualitative and Luantitative deter%ination o( te poison. Eibit F is te 'o o( Rat "iller to prove te source o( te poison @ic @as bou$t by te accused. C/5RT: Any co%%ent? ATT>. /CAMP/: As to Eibits A7 A187 A19 and A1 @e ad%it te eistence and autenticity7 >our Honor.
,irect Ea%ination o( ,r.2eira Taruc by Atty. Helen Paulette Tapire ATT>. TAPIRE: For te de(ense7 @e are ready to present our Brst @itness7 >our Honor. C/5RT: Proceed. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s@ear to tell te trut7 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case? *IT&ESS: >es Maa%. C/5RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances. *IT&ESS: I a% ,r. 2eira 2eonor Taruc7 < years old7 sin$le7 a licensed psyciatrist at te Psyciatry ,epart%ent7 Medical Center Manila7 and a resident o( 89 "rusada St. uaipo7 Manila. ATT>. TAPIRE: >our Honor7 te @itness is presented to testi(y on te %edical records o( te co%plainant @o under@ent several counselin$ sessions under er supervision and to prove te %ental and e%otional instability o( te co%plainant. May @e proceed7 >our Honor? C/5RT: Proceed.
As to Eibit '7 @e ad%it its eistence but not its purpose. As to Eibits C and C187 @e can only ad%it as to te eistence o( te tet %essa$es but not its autenticity. As to Eibit , and ,187 @e ad%it te eistence and autenticity7 >our Honor.
: *en @ere you ad%itted to te practice o( %edicine? A: In 8<7 >our Honor. : Fro% @at university or colle$e did you $raduate and @en? A: I $raduated (ro% te 5niversity o( Santo To%as in te year 8;.
As to Eibit E7 @e ad%it its autenticity and $enuineness.
: ,id you $raduate @it onors? A: >es7 2atin Honors >our Honor.
As to Eibit F7 @e ad%it its eistence but not its purpose.
: ,o you ave any post1$raduate de$ree? A: >es7 >our Honor. I Bnised %y Master o( Psyciatry de$ree at te 5niversity o( Melbourne in 8.
C/5RT: Actin$ on te (or%al oNer o( eibits o( te prosecutor and co%%ents tereon by te de(ense counsel7 te Court resolves to ad%it all te eibits oNered by te de(ense counsel speciBed in te oNer.
: Since @en ave you been practicin$ as a psyciatrist? A: For al%ost 8G years7 >our Honor. : *at is te nature o( your @or as a psyciatrist?
A: As a psyciatrist I deal @it te dia$nosis7 treat%ent and prevention o( %ental and e%otional illness and beavioral disorders o( patients. : Ho@ do you treat your patients? A: I listen and tal to patients about teir %ental7 e%otional or beavioral proble%s and assess te status o( tese disorders. I also prescribe %edications7 co$nitive terapy7 beavioral terapy or psycolo$ical counselin$ dependin$ on te patients needs.
A: Te pysical ea%inations revealed sleepin$ apnea7 inso%nia7 ypertension7 and %i$raines. : As to er e%otional condition? A: Te patient is suNerin$ (ro% %aDor depression7 @itout psycotic (eatures. : ,id you tal to anyone else re$ardin$ te patients e%otional condition? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: ,o you no@ te co%plainant in tis case? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: *o else did you tal to about er e%otional condition? A: I spoe to er (riend7 te one @o advised te patient to see elp. Tis @as part o( te analysis o( te patients condition.
: *y do you no@ er? A: Se @as %y patient at te Psyciatry ,epart%ent o( Medical Center Manila.
: Any oter tests tat you conducted on te patient? A: &o %ore7 >our Honor.
: *en @as tis? A: Au$ust 87 9GG.
: ,octor7 (ro% te ea%inations and observations7 @at did you conclude about te co%plainants condition? A: Te patient (ro% suNered (ro% sin$le episode depression.
: For @at reason did se co%e to your clinic? A: Se consulted %e about er condition. : *as te consultation out o( er o@n volition? A: &o. Se @as advised by er (riend. : ,octor7 @at procedures or tests did you conduct on te co%plainant durin$ te consultation? A: I conducted pysical ea%inations. I ased er to tell so%etin$ about er7 er @or7 er (a%ily7 and oter personal relationsips. I Dust listened to @atever se said. *ile se @as talin$7 I observed er de%eanor7 te @ay se spoe7 and er $estures. : *at did you notice about te co%plainant @ile se @as talin$ to you? A: At Brst7 te patient @as apparently nor%al. 'ut @en se be$an talin$ about er (a%ily7 particularly er parents7 se be$an to sob7 and ten se cried. Her ands @ere tre%blin$. Se bla%ed ersel( (or te deat o( er parents. : *at %atters @ere revealed to you by te co%plainant in te course o( te consultation?
: *ill you eplain to tis Court @at tat condition %eant? A: Sin$le episode depression or SE, is a type o( %aDor depression tat occurs once7 as a result o( a sin$le psycolo$ical trau%a. In te case o( te patient7 based on our conversations7 te only trau%atic event @ic caused te depression @as te terrible accident and deat o( er parents. : *at %ade you conclude tat te patient @as suNerin$ (ro% tis condition? A: Te sy%pto%s o( SE,7 @ic include inso%nia7 loss o( appetite7 @ic %ay7 or %ay not lead to @ei$t loss7 %ood s@in$s and ypnotic spells7 %atced @it te results o( te patients pysical ea%ination. : Ho@ did you treat te patient? A: Te patient @as ad%itted to te ospital as inpatient. : Ho@ lon$ did se stay at te ospital? A: /ne %ont7 >our Honor. : And @at %etods or procedures did you use to treat te patient?
A: I conducted supportive counselin$7 >our Honor. : *ill you tell tis Honorable Court @at supportive counselin$ %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 patient7 I tal to er about @at appened to er durin$ te past @ee. I( te patient %entioned a ne$ative event7 I as er @at se (elt7 @y se (elt tat @ay and o@ se sould ave vie@ed te ne$ative situation. : And te counselin$ sessions @ere at @at intervals? A: /nce a @ee7 >our Honor. : ,id you prescribe any %edication to te patient? A: >es7 I prescribed anti1depressant pills. : *en did you discar$e te co%plainant patient? A: Septe%ber 87 9GG7 >our Honor. : Te %edical Bndin$s tat you ad on te co%plainant7 @ere tese reduced into @ritin$? A: >es7 >our Honor7 I ave %ade a psyciatric assess%ent on te %edical Bndin$s. : ,id you personally prepare te said @ritin$? A: >es7 >our Honor. : ,oes tis docu%ent ave any relation to te report tat you ave prepared? )So@in$ te psyciatric assess%ent+ A: Tat is te report tat I ave prepared7 >our Honor. ATT>. TAPIRE: For te record7 te @itness as identiBed tis docu%ent previously %ared as Eibit 9 as te psyciatric assess%ent record o( Caterine #ane Manaran$.
C/5RT: Mar it. : ,octor7 @o ordered te discar$e o( te co%plainant? A: I ordered te discar$e7 >our Honor7 upon reLuest o( te co%plainant? : *ere tere any conditions upon te discar$e o( te co%plainant? A: In %y discar$e su%%ary7 I stated tat altou$ te patient is bein$ discar$ed7 se is to continue treat%ent as an outpatient. : ,id te patient co%ply @it te condition? A: &o7 >our Honor. Se did not return to te ospital a(ter te discar$e. : ,octor7 @en te co%plainant @as discar$ed7 @at @as er condition? A: Tere @as an i%prove%ent in er condition in $eneral7 altou$ se is not co%pletely stable yet. : *at do you %ean se is not co%pletely stable yet? A: *ile se %ani(ested i%prove%ent7 tere is a possibility o( relapse. : ,o you %ean to say7 ,octor7 tat te patients condition %ay recur? A: I( un$uarded7 >our Honor. : 5n$uardedK? A: I( te patient does not (ollo@ te treat%ent plan7 te possibility o( relapse is i$. : ,o you %ean to say7 ,octor7 tat7 in te case o( te co%plainant7 tere is a possibility o( a relapse7 considerin$ se did not return to you (or (urter treat%ent? A: >es7 >our Honr. : And sould tere be a relapse7 @ould anoter suicide be also a possibility? A: Tat is possible7 >our Honor.
: In te last pa$e o( tis docu%ent7 tere appears a si$nature. *ose si$nature is tis7 Miss *itness? A: Tat is %y si$nature7 >our Honor.
ATT>. TAPIRE: &o (urter Luestions7 >our Honor.
ATT>. TAPIRE: I respect(ully reLuest7 >our Honor7 tat te si$nature appearin$ in tis docu%ent be %ared as Eibit 91A.
PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: >es7 >our Honor.
C/5RT: Cross?
Cross Ea%ination o( ,r. 2eira Taruc by Prosecutor Ayn Sarsaba : ,octor7 you testiBed tat you treated te co%plainant (or sin$le episode depression. Is tat true? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *en you discar$ed te co%plainant7 @at @as er condition? A: Se @as e%otionally stable. : *at %ade you conclude tat te patient @as e%otionally stable? A: ,urin$ our last counselin$ session7 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 ased er about te deat o( er parents. Se said se @ould not bla%e ersel( any%ore. : >ou also testiBed tat your relationsip @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 @ored positively on er. : Te anti1depressant pills tat you prescribed do tey ave any side eNects? A: I ased te patient @at se (elt a(ter tain$ te %edication. Se said se (elt dro@sy7 @ic is a nor%al side eNect o( anti1 depressants.
: Are tere any oter side eNects? A: /ter anti1depressants %ae a patient restless and anious. 'ut te eNects really vary (ro% one person to anoter. In te case o( te co%plainant7 te only eNect @as dro@siness.
A: I( te patient is under several %edications and tey are not (ollo@ed7 a relapse is i$ly possible. And i( te patient does not sub%it to (urter counselin$ sessions @en reLuired7 a relapse is also possible. : *as te co%plainant under %edication @en se @as discar$ed? A: >es7 but only (or anti1depressant7 >our Honor. : So in your opinion7 is te possibility o( a relapse i$ or lo@? A: I cannot tell7 >our Honor. : *ould tat also %ean tat7 in te case o( te co%plainant7 suc relapse %ay not appen? ATT>. TAPIRE: /bDection7 >our Honor7 te Luestion is leadin$. C/5RT: Sustained. PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: Luestions7 >our Honor.
&o
(urter
C/5RT: Re1direct? ATT>. TAPIRE: &o7 >our Honor. *e @ill call on our last @itness. C/5RT: Miss *itness7 >ou %ay step do@n. Call your last @itness.
,irect Ea%ination o( "ate &une! by Atty. Analita /ca%po ATT>. /CAMP/: May I call on our net @itness7 Miss "ate &une!. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s@ear to tell te trut7 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case?
: >ou testiBed tat a relapse is possible i( te patient does not continue treat%ent a(ter discar$e7 is tat true? A: >es7 >our Honor.
*IT&ESS: >es Maa%.
: Ho@ i$ are te cances o( a relapse? A: It depends7 >our Honor.
*IT&ESS: I a% "ate &une!7 9 years old7 %arried7 an o3ce%ate o( te co%plainant and a resident o( ;<7 Paco7 Manila.
: ,epends on @at?
C/5RT: 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 proceed7 >our Honor?
: *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/5RT: Proceed. : ,o you no@ te co%plainant? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *y do you no@ er? A: I @or @it er at te accountin$ depart%ent at &estle Pilippines. : Ho@ lon$ ave you been o3ce%ates? A: About t@o years.
: ,o you re%e%ber @at transpired a(ter@ards? A: A(ter about tree days7 I learned o( te co%plainants atte%pt to co%%it suicide. : Miss *itness7 on #une 997 9GG7 did you receive an e1%ail (ro% te co%plainant? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *o @as te sender o( tat e1%ail? A: It @as Caterine7 >our Honor.
: Ho@ @ould you describe er as an o3ce%ate? A: Se is a Luiet person7 a loner. : In te t@o years tat youve no@n te co%plainant7 @as tere any unto@ard incident @ic involved er? A: &one sir. : *as tere any ti%e tat you noticed so%etin$ diNerent about te co%plainant? A: >es. : *at @as tat? A: I sa@ er one ti%e at te co%(ort roo%7 se @as cryin$ @ile starin$ at te %irror. : *at did you do @en you sa@ er cryin$? A: I ased er i( so%etin$ @ron$ appened. : *at @as er ans@er? A: Se said7 I @anna dieOJ : *at did you tell er a(ter se said tose @ords? A: I ased er a$ain @at appened : And @at @as er ans@er? A: Se did not say anytin$7 se Dust stared at %e. : *at @as your reaction? A: I said7 Co%e on7 you can tell %e your proble%s.J : ,id tis ind o( incident appen a$ain? A: >es. T@o days a(ter7 te sa%e incident appened in te co%(ort roo%.
: Ho@ do you no@? A: 'ecause se used er si$nature7 >our Honor. : Miss *itness7 please ea%ine tis @ritin$7 and please tell te Court i( you reco$ni!ed it? A: Tat is te e1%ail sent by te co%plainant7 >our Honor. ATT>. /CAMP/: For te record7 te @itness as identiBed tis docu%ent previously %ared as Eibit A as te printed copy o( te e1%ail sent by te co%plainant. : Can you tell te Court @at te e1%ail contained? A: It says: ,ear "ate7 %y parents didnt deserve to die tat @ay. I a% so stupid7 I sould ave died @it te%. I @anna die no@OJ : Ho@ sure are you tat tis is te sa%e e1 %ail @ic you received (ro% te co%plainant? A: 'ecause er si$nature appears at te botto% o( te e1%ail7 >our Honor. : Tis si$nature appearin$ ere7 is tis te si$nature o( te co%plainant? A: >es7 >our Honor. ATT>. /CAMP/: >our Honor7 it is respect(ully reLuested tat te si$nature appearin$ in tis Eibit be %ared as Eibit 1A. ATT>. /CAMP/: &o (urter Luestions.
C/5RT: Cross? PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: &o cross1 ea%ination (or te @itness7 your onor.
,irect Ea%ination o( Iris 0ictoria Merin by Atty. Helen Paulette Tapire ATT>. TAPIRE: For te de(ense7 @e are ready to present te accused7 >our Honor. C/5RT: Proceed. I&TERPRETER: ,o you s@ear to tell te trut7 all te trut and notin$ but te trut in tis case? *IT&ESS: >es Maa%. C/5RT: Please state your na%e and oter personal circu%stances. *IT&ESS: Iris 0ictoria 5y Merin7 9 years o( a$e7 sin$le7 (ood toicolo$ist at te Researc and ,evelop%ent ,ivision &estle Pilippines7 and a resident o( 5nit 8; Astral Apart%ent Padre Faura St. Er%ita7 Manila. C/5RT: >our @itness. ATT>. TAPIRE: >our Honor7 te testi%ony o( te @itness is bein$ oNered 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 state7 er perspective o( te situation cannot be relied upon. May @e proceed7 >our Honor?
A: Se is a cildood (riend. *e @or in te sa%e co%pany and @e live in te sa%e apart%ent. : Iris Merin7 please tell tis Honorable Court7 @ere @ere you on /ctober 87 9GG at around p%? A: I @as at te en$a$e%ent party o( Caterine and Ricard. : 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@ards7 I sa@ er oldin$ er abdo%en and vo%itin$. : *at @ere you drinin$ tat ti%e? A: I @as drinin$ %ar$arita7 se @as drinin$ Coe !ero. : 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. : Ho@ lon$ did you stay at te ospital? A: I stayed tere overni$t. : 'e(ore te incident appened7 @ere @ere you? A: I @as at te Starbucs @it Caterine. : At around @at ti%e @as tat? A: It @as around p%. It @as %y coNee brea ten. : ,id Caterine $o to @or tat day? A: &o7 >our Honor.
C/5RT: Proceed. : Miss *itness7 are you te sa%e Iris 0ictoria Merin @o is te accused in tis case? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: ,o you no@ te co%plainant? A: >es7 >our Honor. : ,o you no@ er personally? A: >es7 >our Honor. : Ho@ are you related to er?
: *ould you no@ @y? A: Se told %e se @ould tae a leave because se needed to prepare (or teir en$a$e%ent party. : ,id you $o to @or tat day? A: >es. : *at ti%e did you leave te ouse? A: I le(t te ouse :G a%. : So could you positively say tat you ad no idea about @at transpired on tat day7
/ctober 87 9GG7 be(ore te incident at te en$a$e%ent party appened? PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: /bDection7 >our HonorO Te Luestion is leadin$. C/5RT: Sustained. : *en you le(t te ouse7 @at @as Caterine doin$? A: Se @as still sleepin$7 >our Honor. : Miss *itness7 @ere you a@are tat te co%plainant suNered (ro% a %aDor depression? A: >es7 >our Honor. : *ould you no@ te reason @y se suNered (ro% tat depression? A: 'ecause se couldnt accept te unti%ely deat o( er parents. Se bla%ed ersel( (or teir deat.
: *at did you do to elp er in er condition? A: I @as al@ays talin$ to er7 asin$ er o@ se (eels7 I ept tellin$ er not to be depressed any%ore. I also told er to stop drinin$. : A(ter se sou$t te elp o( a psyciatrist7 @at appened? A: Caterine recovered (ro% te depression. Se @as sleepin$ @ell and @as no lon$er drinin$ o(ten. : &o %ore si$ns o( te depression @ere present? A: H%%7 so%eti%es se suddenly ept Luiet. Tere @ere ti%es I cau$t er cryin$ silently. ATT>. TAPIRE : &o (urter Luestions7 >our Honor. C/5RT: Cross?
: *en did er parents die? A: Around May o( 9GG. : A(ter te deat o( te co%plainants parents7 @at appened to te co%plainant? A: Se beca%e inso%niac. Tere @ere ni$ts tat se couldnt sleep. Se also dran liLuor %ore o(ten. Se be$an to lose @ei$t. Tere @ere also %ood s@in$s7 particularly in te a(ternoon. Tere @ere ti%es tat se @ould Dust cry. So%eti%es se Dust eeps Luiet and not tal to %e. : ,id te co%plainant re%ain tat @ay? A: >es7 >our Honor. : For o@ lon$ did se re%ain tat @ay? A: I tin around t@o %onts7 be(ore se atte%pted to end er li(e. : *en did se atte%pt to co%%it suicide? A: Around #uly or Au$ust 9GG7 >our Honor. : A(ter se co%%itted suicide7 @at appened? A: Se sou$t te elp o( a psyciatrist. : ,id you advise er to see %edical elp? A: &o7 >our Honor7 because I @as a(raid sed say I tin ses cra!y. : ,id you do anytin$ to elp er? A: >es7 >our Honor.
PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: >es7 >our Honor.
Cross Ea%ination o( Iris 0ictoria Merin by Prosecutor Antony Presto!a : In te direct ea%ination7 you told tis Honorable Court tat you @or as a (ood toicolo$ist7 o@ lon$ ave you been practicin$ tis pro(ession? A: years. : *at is your speciali!ation? A: I speciali!e in ce%ical analysis o( (ood co%position and toicity o( (ood contents. : So7 you ave no@led$e o( diNerent inds o( ce%icals and (ood substances? A: >es. : Are you (a%iliar @it rodenticide? A: >es7 >our Honor. : Is it poisonous? A: >es7 >our Honor. : ,o you tin it can ill a person? A: ,ependin$ on te a%ount7 >our Honor. : ,o you use rodenticide? A: >es7 @e use te% (or illin$ ouse rats.
: ,o you ave a rodenticide at o%e? A: >es7 >our Honor.
poisoned around ours earlier be(ore se @as brou$t to te Hospital? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: ,o you reco$ni!e tis bo o( rat iller7 previously %ared as Eibit F? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: *ere @ere you durin$ tat ti%e? A: I @as in te o3ce. I ave @or.
: *as tis te paca$e tat contained te rat iller? A: >es7 >our Honor.
: /n te day o( te incident7 @at ti%e did you @ae up? A: Te usual. <:G AM.
: *ere you te one @o bou$t tis? A: &o. It @as Caterine @o bou$t it because se intends to clean te apart%ent and to eli%inate te rats at o%e.
: ,id you @ae up earlier tan Caterine? A: >es7 >our Honor
: Miss *itness7 @ere you a@are o( te provision in te lease contract @ic said tat it is te responsibility o( te lessor to conduct Luarterly pest control %easures? A: >es7 >our Honor. In (act7 I @as surprised @y Caterine bou$t rodenticide7 @ell in (act our lease a$ree%ent provides tat @e sould report any co%plaints @e ave to te lessor. : Ho@ lon$ ave you been stayin$ @it te co%plainant in te sa%e apart%ent? A: About years no@7 >our Honor. : ,o you ave any oter co%panion in te apart%ent @ere you and Caterine stay? A: &one : ,oes tis %ean tat eiter only you or Caterine prepares te (ood and drins tat %ay be (ound in te apart%ent. A: >es. Ecept tose @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 city7 @e allo@ er to stay in te apart%ent. : Te ni$t be(ore Caterine @as poisoned7 @ere tere any oter person stayin$ @it you in te apart%ent? A: &one sir. : So durin$ tat ti%e7 all te drins and (ood inside te apart%ent @ere eiter prepared by you or Caterine? A: Most probably7 >our Honor. : Are you a@are o( te Bndin$s o( te doctor @o attended Caterine tat se @as
: ,urin$ tat ti%e7 did you notice any $rape(ruit Duice in te re(? A: >es. *e al@ays ave so%e stoc o( Duice. : >ou testiBed tat you and te co%plainant @ere cildood (riends. *ere you not concerned durin$ te ti%e tat se suNered (ro% depression? PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: /bDection7 >our Honor7 counsel is speculatin$. )Pa$ overruled7 A&S*ER: I @as concerned about er7 but no@in$ er7 se @ould not tell %e o@ se (eels because se lied eepin$ tin$s to ersel(+ )Pa$ sustained7 re(or% te Luestion to: *HAT ,I, >/5 ,/ T/ HE2P THE C/MP2AI&A&T ,5RI&- THE TIME SHE *AS S5FFERI&FR/M ,EPRESSI/&? Ans@er: I @as al@ays talin$ to er7 asin$ er o@ se (eels7 i( se @as oay or not.+ : Miss *itness7 do you no@ te Bance o( te co%plainant? A: >es7 >our Honor. : Ho@ did you co%e to no@ i%? A: He is te ead security o3cer o( te co%pany @ere I and Caterine @or. : ,oes e visit your apart%ent re$ularly? A: >es7 I tin so. : ,o you entertain i% @en e visits your place? A: &ot at all. I usually $ive te couple so%e privacy. : ,id you lie i%? A: &o7 >our Honor.
: ,id you nurture any aNection to@ards i%? A: &o7 >our Honor. : Are you not Dealous o( your best (riend? A: &o7 >our Honor. : ,id you not develop any ill (eelin$s to@ards your best (riend @en you learned tat se and Ritcie is $ettin$ %arried? A: &o7 >our Honor. In (act7 I% appy (or te bot o( te%. PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: Luestions7 >our Honor.
&o
and e%otional instability o( te co%plainant and er suicidal tendencies. Eibit 1A is te printed copy o( te electronic si$nature o( te co%plainant to prove te autorsip o( te electronic %ails sent by er. C/5RT: Any co%%ent7 Prosecutor Sarsaba? PR/SEC5T/R PREST/=A: As to Eibit 8 and 81A7 @e can ad%it its eistence and autenticity7 >our Honor.
(urter
C/5RT: Re1direct? ATT>. TAPIRE: &o7 >our Honor. C/5RT: Miss *itness7 >ou %ay step do@n.
For%al /Ner o( Evidence o( ,e(ense ATT>. /CAMP/: >our Honor7 @e are no@ restin$ te case (or te de(ense. C/5RT: Ho@ do you intend to sub%it your (or%al oNer? ATT>. /CAMP/: *e can no@ (or%ally oNer our evidence >our Honor. C/5RT: Proceed. ATT>. /CAMP/: Eibit 8 is te Su%%ary ,iscar$e Report to prove te co%plainants ad%ission (or treat%ent at te Medical Center Manila. Eibit 9 is te Psyciatric Assess%ent issued by ,r. 2eira Taruc to prove %ental and e%otional condition o( te co%plainant at te ti%e se @as ad%itted (or psyciatric treat%ent. Eibit 91A is te si$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 consists o( printed copies o( te electronic %ails sent by te co%plainant to @itness "ate &une! to prove te %ental
As to Eibit 9 and 91A7 @e can only ad%it te eistence but not te autenticity and trut(ulness >our Honor. Court: Actin$ on te (or%al oNer o( eibits o( te de(ense counsel and co%%ents tereon by te public prosecutor7 te Court resolves to ad%it all te eibits oNered by te de(ense counsel speciBed in te oNer. C/5RT: Any rebuttal1evidence7 Fiscal? PR/SEC5T/R SARSA'A: evidence7 >our Honor.
&o
rebuttal
C/5RT: Considerin$ tat te public prosecutor @ill not present rebuttal evidence7 te court $ives te parties G days (ro% today @itin @ic to Ble teir respective %e%oranda. Te case sall be dee%ed sub%itted (or decision a(ter te lapse o( te said period7 even @itout te said %e%orandu%. C/5RT: /rder.
