Felonia trial today
THE TRIAL for the murder case filed against former Davao Regional Intelligence Unit chief Leonardo Felonia, who was tagged in the murder of Cebu-based businessman Richard King on June 17, 2014, is set today before the sala of Regional Trial Court (RTC- 16).
In the previous hearing, during the pre-trial conference witnesses will be done starting November 14, 15, 21 and 22, and on December 12.
Presiding Judge Emmanuel Carpio made such order after a pre-trial conference was done with representatives for both parties.
The pre-trial conference was pursued after a motion to fix bail filed through the counsel of the accused was denied by
Carpio, who ruled that "though allegation of treachery may not be appreciated against accused Felonia, (as stated in the memoranda filed by the defense of the accused), the allegations of conspiracy and consideration of price can appreciably apply to him, which is the basis of the denial of the motion".
A pre-trial conference was earlier set June 17, 2016 but this was moved for the hearing of the motion to fix bail filed by Felonia's legal counsel Ceasar Europa.
In an order dated April 12, Carpio directed the prosecution to comment on the motion to fix bail within 10 days from the issuance of the order.
It was earlier reported that Felonia pleaded not guilty during his arraignment at the RTC-Branch 16 last December 11, while Labang and the Dela Cerna brothers were also arraigned at the same branch after Judge Carpio ordered a not guilty plea on their behalf last September 24 after a series of failure to appear before the Court.
Felonia's arraignment was supposed to be held in Quezon City as partially granted by the Supreme Court in response to petition for the change of venue previously filed by Felonia's legal counsel but this was