Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011

People of the Philippines v. Umberto Manansala Practice Court, Group #1

Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011

People of the Philippines v. Umberto Manansala GR No: 2366390 July 28, 2011
Summary of facts: A homicide was reported at around 4:00am, Sunday, at the Southern Police District. The victim, a woman of 23 years, black of hair, weighing 120lbs. was found in her condominium and was later identified as Ms. Pura Kikinang, a local beauty queen. She sustained multiple stab wounds in the abdomen and chest area, two broken ribs and a contusion. She was not sexually assaulted, and no sign of the murder weapon was onsite. The police found that the murder was not consistent with the M.O. of any criminal on record. The police acted on a lead which pointed towards the ex-boyfriend of Pura K. The police took him into custody and processed him. Finding probable cause, the herein case is therefore filed against Mr. Umberto Manansala. The case was raffled to Branch 13 of the Makati Regional Trial Court. Findings of the Scene of the Crime Operatives: The Crime Scene was located at Unit 2308 of the Azenith Condominiums along Bonnevie Avenue in Salcedo Village Makati City. One of the neighbors, Ms. X (not her real name, obviously), who threw out her garbage at the common disposal chute at 3:45am on that fateful day saw the door of Miss Pura K.s unit was slightly ajar with the stereo blaring inside the unit. She likewise noticed that there were dried blood marks on the floor of the common hallway leading to the fire exits. She ventured into the condominium unit whereupon calling out to the victim, discovered the body of Miss Pura K. in the lighted azotea. When asked about why she was not discovered sooner, Ms. X posited that since it was a weekend, most of the tenants either went out of town or to their homes in the country, the majority of tenants using their units at Azotea Condominiums as halfway-houses during the weekday stretch. This constituted the statement of Ms. X, which is submitted as an affidavit. The court has heard and had admitted her testimony; no further contest may be leveled against her testimony. The body was in an advanced state of Rigor Mortis. There was no evidence of any form of forced entry, and the tracks would indicate that the perpetrator exited through the front door. The murder weapon was not found within the area of the crime scene, but a blunt object was found near the victim, it would appear to be a golf club (a nine iron).

Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011

The victim was fully clothed, the material of which is chiffon and tulle, notably, no evidence of theft was present, as the victim still wore the precious jewels which were around her neck and dangling from her ears. There was a single, incomplete fingerprint, matching no records in the police database, and five smudged handprints. There were shoe prints successfully lifted from the crime scene, revealing a size 11 shoe with what appears to be the words Vibram on the sole. Findings of the Medico-Legal: The Victim, female, 23 years old, died of 4 stab wounds to the abdomen and two stab wounds on the chest. The stab wounds to the abdomen pierced the abdominal cavity, puncturing the liver and the spleen which is evidenced by bleeding from both organs and residual blood found in the cavity itself. The stab wounds on the chest punctured one of the lungs and the heart, leading to massive hemorrhaging and which resulted in her swift death. The victim also suffered a contusion which was inflicted or sustained close to, or after the point of death. The victim was found in an advanced stage of rigor mortis, and livor mortis has started to set in, placing her death at around 8:00-9:00pm taking into consideration the high humidity of the crime scene which accelerated the decomposition process. No evidence of sexual abuse is found. The Summary of Joshua Gosienfiaos Statement: Joshua Gosienfiao, Male, 28 years old. Talent Manager of the victim, Miss Pura K. The last person to see her alive. On the night of the crime, we have just come from a function, Pasayaw sa Baranggay Kampupot 2011: Sobra na to!, she was the guest judge for the Mutya ng Pasayaw, where she crowned the girl who danced the best among those who attended. After the event, at around 7pm, we went to a local burger place called Malcolms Burger where we had the usual Ultimate Cheeseburger with Potato Chips. Pura K. was always partial to Malcolms Burger. After our dinner, I brought her home to her condo. We had coffee and I left at around 8:00 pm. In the car, I had my phone on silent mode so I did not hear the beeping which signaled the arrival of her first few messages. Upon reaching a stop-light, I checked my phone and there were three messages there. The first said: Turn Back Bert is here. The second said: Joshua, please come back, please.

Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011

After reading the first two messages, I made a U-turn and started to go back to her condo. By the time I got there, I read the third message. The third said: Joshua, dont come anymore, he left already. Goodnight. I saw Umberto (Manansala) beside the entrance of the condo pacing furiously and smoking. I dialed her number and she answered, saying that she was fine and that Umberto (Manansala) left and that they have been fighting again. Umberto Manansala was very cruel to her and I personally have witnessed him striking Pura K. on her face plenty of times during their relationship together, mostly in public. They have known each other as child models and I managed their careers for them, that is, until Umberto (Manansala) was involved with drugs and I had to let him go. Pura K. ended their relationship just three days prior to her death. I asked her if she needed company for tonight and she said no. I went on without stopping till I reached my house. I Dialed her phone again and she answered but she did not say anything. All I could hear were raised voices and there were only two voices, hers and Umberto Manasala. They were arguing, then the phone line went dead. I dialed her number again but she did not answer. I then received another text message which said He left already, everything is under control. I texted back and asked what they were arguing about and if she needed me there, she gave me reassurances that the same will not be necessary. I went to bed with lingering doubts and I resolved to visit her in the morning, but by then it was too late. The Summary of Umberto Manansalas Statement: Umberto Manansala, Male, 23 years old. Ex-boyfriend of the Victim Ms. Pura K. The Accused. I categorically deny the charges filed against me. I am a law-abiding citizen, And I was nowhere near the scene of the crime. I was Pura Kikinangs boyfriend for the past four years. During this time, we were very happy. But Pura K. harbors a secret identity. She is actually suffering from severe manic-depression and is actually bipolar. She has on at least two occasions evidenced by medical records, inflicted selfinjury upon her person. This is the true cause of our separation. On the evening when the crime took place, I was with my new girlfriend Ms. Serafina L., watching a movie at Greenhills Theater, the showtime was at 8:00pm. This was witnessed by no less than three of my close friends who we bumped into during our ingress into the theater. I stayed with my girlfriend for the whole three hours of the movie, we shared a barrel of poporn and attached to this statement is a receipt which evidenced the fact.

Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011

I loved Pura, but because of our problems, I just had to move on for my own sanity. The search of the residence of the accused: Based on the complaint, the city fiscal filed for the issuance of a search warrant. The search warrant states that the items to be collected are: a.) Knives or other sharp objects which may have been utilized in the murder of the victim b.) Shoes or any footwear which may be used to compare to the print found in the crime scene c.) Clothes which may have been used in the commission of the crime d.) Any other implements necessarily and logically connected to the crime. The police seized all of the suspects kitchen knives, his extensive collection of 60-pairs of shoes and other footwear, cash, his golf clubs, his cellular phone, his computer, his iPad, his external hard drive, fifteen shirts in the hamper and in the closet, and other personal effects. The arrest: Acting on the evidence gathered, the accused was arrested and processed in the normal fashion. The Accused has been arraigned properly and here stands for trial. Summary of Conflicting Evidence: The knives which were positive for human blood found in the residence of the accused. The ticket stub from the movie supposedly used by the Accused as an alibi. The shoes taken from the residence of the accused. All other objects found in the residence of the accused The fingerprints and shoe impressions at the crime scene. The testimony of Ms. X, if some infirmity exists. The CCTV recording of the accused in the elevator on his way down. The veracity of the finding of the medico legal or the SOCO. The statements of witnesses purporting to support the alibi of the accused. The statements of witnesses placing the accused near the scene of the crime.

Possible Issues: Admissibility of Object Evidence Admissibility of Documentary Evidence Admissibility of Testimonial Evidence

Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011

Notes:

Lyceum of the Philippines University College of Law (Practice Court) July 28, 2011