A resident of Barangay Alangilan in Bacolod City was sentenced to 14 years and eight months imprisonment yesterday for stabbing a minor dead, a copy of the decision furnished to the DAILY STAR, said.

Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 43 Judge Philadelfa Pagapong-Agraviador found Joebert Aguas guilty beyond reasonable doubt of homicide punishable under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines, as amended, by one mitigating circumstance of voluntary surrender.

In her 10-page decision, the judge sentenced Aguas to the indeterminate penalty of 10 years and one day as minimum, to 14 years and eight months as maximum.

Aguas voluntarily surrendered to Police Station 5 after stabbing Joeler Latoza, then 17, with a knife in his chest and stomach, in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod, causing his death, on June 24, 2008, records showed.

Agraviador ordered Aguas to pay the heirs of the victim P8,885.50 in actual damages, P50,000 as death indemnity, and P50,000 for moral damages.

Aside from the testimonies of witnesses, the defense offered for stipulation the voluntary surrender of the accused to police authorities after the stabbing incident which the prosecution admitted.

“The Court is convinced that the prosecution was able to substantiate its claim and prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt,” the decision said.*SGG

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