Woman charged with murder of stepkid
Last Nov. 27, a babysitter saw the stepmother putting chilli pepper into the three-year-old’s mouth The child died the following day due to injuries in the head, knees, and right leg, autopsy report shows
ANNA Marie Mier allegedly hit her three-year-old stepdaughter Ashley Dayangco with a belt, hanger, bamboo and other things in their home in Barangay Saksak, Dalaguete last year.
A witness, a babysitter, said in an affidavit that she heard the child cry several times.
In the morning of Nov. 27 last year, she saw Mier putting chilli pepper into Ashley's mouth.
Ashley died the following day due to injuries in the head, knees, and right leg, autopsy report shows.
The girl's aunt charged Mier and her father Noeh Dayangco before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor's Office.
Assistant Provincial Prosecutor Joe Noel Lawas found enough evidence to indict Mier with murder and Noeh with parricide.
Both cases are non-bailable. Provincial Prosecutor Pepita Jane Petralba approved Lawas's resolution.
Under the Revised Penal Code, a person commits murder if he/she kills someone by taking advantage of his/her strength, and uses treachery and cruelty.
Parricide is charged against a person who kill his/her father, mother, or child, “whether legitimate or illegitimate, or any of his ascendants, or descendants, or his spouse.”
In his resolution, Lawas said he found probable cause to charge Mier with murder because it can be “reasonably” concluded that Ashley died due to the injuries allegedly inflicted on the girl by Mier.
“Since Ashley was only three years old at the time of the maltreatment, the circumstances of cruelty, treachery, and superior strength are deemed present during the commission of the crime,” he said.
Lawas further said the girl's father is also charged in court because “it can be reasonably inferred that (Noeh) consented to or allowed the maltreatment, which eventually led to Ashley's death.”
“In sum, respondents (Mier and Noeh) conspired with each other in killing Ashley,” he said.
In his counter-affidavit, Noeh said he was working in Carcar City when the alleged maltreatment happened. He returned to their home twice a month only.
He never saw his daughter with bruises in different parts of her body. His statement is corroborated by two persons.
But Lawas was not persuaded by Noeh's defense. He said the latter's alibi is not “sufficient” to prevent him from being charged with parricide.