After the original schedule of promulgation did not push through the other week, the court is set to hand down today its verdict on the case against Alpha Kappa Rho member Sherwin Que for the killing of student Mark James Enriquez.
Regional Trial Court Branch 20 has scheduled to promulgate the case at 10 a.m. today. The suspect was reportedly sick the first time the case was supposed to be promulgated.
Anticipation looms over the court’s verdict following Que’s admission to shooting Enriquez, a business management student at the University of San Carlos. Enriquez was mistaken to be a member of rival fraternity Tau Gamma Phi when he was shot on July 19, 2003 at the Unibeersities resto bar.
Que, an Akhro member for 14 years, admitted to the shooting when he took the witness stand April last year but claimed it was purely an accident and that he was just defending himself when a rumble ensued. He had apologized in open court.
He testified that on the night of July 18, 2003, he was invited by another Akrho member for the anniversary celebration of the Akrho-University of Cebu chapter. He also confessed he had been bringing his unlicensed firearm for two years prior to the incident for his safety.
Authorities had also impleaded other Akrho members including Anthony John Apura, Jun-jun Rivera, Alvin Taggart Alviz and an unidentified companion. However, only Que and Apura were arrested.
When asked why he pleaded not guilty to the original charge of murder, Que had said he did no know the difference between homicide and murder.
Que narrated that he arrived at the resto bar a little past midnight for a party purportedly exclusive for Akrho members. At least 80 members were reportedly present that night.
He said that he left to buy cigarettes but learned upon his return that members of rival fraternity Tau Gamma were already in the resto bar. Two men allegedly threatened to hurt him with broken bottles of beer when he made his way inside.
The two allegedly continued to make their way towards him, which forced him to take out his firearm and shoot twice in their direction. It was the second shot that hit Enriquez. — Joeberth M. Ocao/BRP