4 convicted for slay try on store owner, two men

CEBU, Philippines – The Regional Trial Court has convicted four people for the crime of frustrated murder and two counts of attempted murder for stabbing two customers of a mini mart and for at-tempting to kill the store's owner, who witnessed the crime in Camella Homes Subdivision, Lawaan I, Talisay City three years ago.

RTC Branch 10 presiding judge Soliver Peras found Raul Sanchez alias "Tura," Oliver Resuelo, Rey Inajada and a certain "Boy," guilty of the crimes charged against them for stabbing Elmar Asturias and Rex Fontanalgo and shooting Abdul Faisal at the latter's store On May 19, 2007. Peras sentenced them to spend 12 to 17 years in jail for frustrated murder for stabbing Asturias and Fontanalgo and another six to 10 years for attempted murder for shooting Faisal.

In his testimony, Faisal narrated that on the evening of May 19, the four accused went to his store and one of them even bought cigarettes. But suddenly the four accused stabbed Fontanalgo and Asturias, who were sitting on a bench outside the store.

After committing the crime, the four immediately ran away and Faisal chased them but somehow lost tract of the four men.

When Faisal decided to return home, he was surprised when he saw Sanchez and one companion who asked him whether he "knew the people who stabbed the victims."

Faisal answered in negative but Sanchez shot him several times hitting his left chest and arm.

During the trial of the case, the defense failed to rebut the testimony of Faisal, who saw Sanchez and his three other companions in stabbing Asturias and Fontanalgo.  (FREEMAN)