FACTS:
Petitioners Guillermo Wacoy and James Quibac were charged with the crime of Homicide under Article 249 of the Revised Penal Code (RPC) before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Benguet, Branch 10. The charge stemmed from an incident on April 11, 2004, wherein the petitioners allegedly attacked, assaulted, and kicked Elner Aro, resulting in his death. According to prosecution witness Edward Benito, he witnessed the incident and saw Wacoy kick Aro's stomach twice before Quibac punched him, causing him to collapse and cry in pain. Aro was taken to the hospital where he underwent an operation but eventually died. The cause of death indicated in the death certificate was "cardiopulmonary arrest antecedent to a perforated ileum and generalized peritonitis secondary to mauling," but an autopsy revealed that the cause of death was "rupture of the aorta secondary to blunt traumatic injuries." The petitioners denied the charge and claimed that Aro became unruly and attacked them first. The RTC found them guilty of Death Caused in a Tumultuous Affray but the CA modified the conviction to Homicide. The core issue before the Court is whether the CA correctly found the petitioners guilty of Homicide.
ISSUES:
- Whether or not the CA correctly found Wacoy and Quibac guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Homicide.
RULING:
- The CA correctly found Wacoy and Quibac guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the crime of Homicide.