Prosecution witness says Masangkay did not stab self

CEBU, Philippines - The chief of the PNP crime laboratory in Central Visayas told the court yesterday it was no possible for former Regional State Prosecutor Hernando Masangkay to have stabbed himself on the back.

Prosecutor Richard Bauzon presented Masangkay in court yesterday as prosecution witness in the robbery and homicide charges against the 17-year-old suspect in Masangkay’s death.

The boy was reportedly with Masangkay when the crime was committed on June 25, 2010. Masangkay died from two fatal stab wounds on the neck and a stab wound on the back shoulder. His body was found inside his house in Camella Homes, Barangay Lawaan I.

“Self inflicted. That would be ridiculous… they’re trying to say former Regional State Prosecutor Hernando Masangkay killed himself?” Bauzon told the court.

Explaining the result of his autopsy on Masangkay’s body, Sator said the victim could not have stabbed himself on the back. He said he conducted the autopsy on June 27, 2010 at 10:30 p.m., about two days after Masangkay was died.

During cross-examination, Sator told defense lawyer Vicente Alfonso Varela that it would not possible for Masangkay to reach to his back and stab himself.

“At the back portion, there is no possibility that it can be called self inflicted as he cannot reach it,” Sator explained.

Policemen who investigated the case said Masangkay was also robbed. Reginald, 32, son of the victim, told the police that his father’s gold necklace and expensive watch were gone.

The 17-year-old accused, however, denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charge. He admitted being the on-call driver of Masangkay but claimed he saw the victim last a month before he died. - (THE FREEMAN)