Suspect in car trader's slay now a state witness

MANILA, Philippines - Alfred Mendiola, the star witness in the killing of car dealer Venson Evangelista, has been removed from the list of the accused in the criminal case.

In an order dated Sept. 29, Judge Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla granted the discharge of Mendiola as state witness.

Mendiola was among those initially charged with car theft with homicide before the Regional Trial Court Branch 215. The other accused in the case are brothers Roger and Raymond Dominguez, Jayson Miranda, Rolando Talban – the alleged gunman – and another suspect.

Mendiola has admitted to being the one who posed as buyer of the Toyota Land Cruiser that Evangelista was selling on the day he was abducted.