Woman who shot husband in mall can stand trial

MANILA, Philippines - The 27-year-old housewife charged for killing her husband and a security guard inside a mall in Quezon City two years ago is now competent to stand the rigors of court trial, a report from the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) said.

In the medical report submitted to the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 219, NCMH forensic psychiatry section chief Dr. Edison Galindez said Shella Macapugay has improved and is deemed competent to stand the rigors of court trial.

Macapugay is facing parricide and murder charges for killing her husband, Abel, at the basement of a mall on North EDSA on Sept. 13, 2011. She also shot dead security guard Ricardo Inamac III when he tried to stop her from killing herself after she shot her husband.

Earlier, officers at the Quezon City Jail Female Dormitory asked the court to allow Macapugay to undergo physical and mental examination after she claimed to hear different voices, including that of her late husband.

The court has since granted the request. In a medical report last year, the NCMH said Macapugay was diagnosed with major depressive disorder and that she was incompetent to stand the rigors of trial.

But following her medical examination last April 5, Galindez said the accused was able to speak spontaneously and had fair insight into her illness.

“She was aware of her case and was able to narrate the circumstances of the alleged crime. She was aware of courtroom proceedings and of the functions of the different courtroom personnel,” read the latest report.

“She was aware of the possible consequences of her case,” it added.

The report recommended to the court the resumption of the trial to effect the speedy disposition of the case.

Galindez also recommended that Macapugay continue to her medication and undergo regular outpatient follow-ups with a psychiatrist.