Man gets life for murder

The Malabon Regional Trial Court sentenced a 33-year-old house painter to life imprisonment for the murder of his neighbor in Malabon nine years ago.

Judge Benjamin Aquino found Alexander Layno, married, of Portero, Malabon, guilty of the killing of Rodolfo Gabuat on May 10, 1992.

The judge also ordered Layno to pay the victim’s family P143,000 for the expenses they incurred in connection with the death and burial of Gabuat and moral damages.

Court records showed that the accused, together with his brothers, Danilo, Roberto, and Bernardo, stabbed and shot the victim in front of his house at about 2 a.m. on the said date.

The victim’s wife, Anna Marie, testified that she and Rodolfo were roused from sleep by a noise outside their house. She said her husband got up and went out, ignoring her pleas that he remain inside. He insisted that he was just going to answer the call of nature.

A few minutes later, she followed him and was surprised to see Rodolfo being held by the accused and his brothers. — Nikko Dizon