FACTS:

Enriquez was charged with the crime of Murder under the Information alleging that he attacked and stabbed Florencio Dela Cruz, causing serious and mortal wounds that resulted in his death. The prosecution's version of events was that Luisa and Jessica Tolentino witnessed the incident and saw Dela Cruz being stabbed by Enriquez with a bread knife. Dela Cruz managed to seek help before collapsing and was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. Barangay Security Development Officer Obar also arrested Enriquez at the scene and recovered a knife.

Enriquez's defense was that he had visited Dela Cruz's house earlier that day with his two children and had left between 9 and 10 in the evening. He claimed that he was being suspected of the killing and was brought to Camp Karingal but denied committing the crime, stating that he was on duty as a security guard at the time.

The Regional Trial Court (RTC) convicted Enriquez of Murder, ruling that his defenses of denial and alibi were unpersuasive. The RTC found treachery in the crime as Dela Cruz was suddenly stabbed from behind, giving him no chance to defend himself. Enriquez appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA) which affirmed the conviction with modifications on the amount of damages awarded.

Enriquez now appeals to the Supreme Court, questioning his conviction for Murder.

ISSUES:

1. Whether the CA erred in affirming Enriquez's conviction for Murder.

RULING:

1. The Court finds no reversible error in the CA's decision affirming Enriquez's conviction for Murder. The CA correctly ruled that the prosecution was able to establish all the elements of Murder and that treachery attended the commission of the crime. The trial court's assessment of the credibility of witnesses and the probative weight of their testimonies is also entitled to great respect and will not be disturbed on appeal. Therefore, the conviction of Enriquez for Murder is affirmed.

PRINCIPLES:

• In the crime of Murder, the prosecution must establish the presence of all the elements of Murder, including the fact that the accused had the intent to kill and that the killing was attended by qualifying circumstances such as evident premeditation and treachery.

• The trial court's assessment of the credibility of witnesses and the probative weight of their testimonies is entitled to great respect and will not be disturbed on appeal, unless there is clear showing that it overlooked, misunderstood, or misapplied certain facts or circumstances of weight and substance that would affect the result of the case.