FACTS
Appellant Florenda Castro was found guilty of parricide for the killing of her husband and murder for the death of her father-in-law after she attacked her husband whom she was united in lawful wedlock, assaulted and shot it with a gun hitting him in the head and chest thereby inflicting mortal wounds which directly caused his death. She contends that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt of the accused-appellant beyond reasonable doubt.
ISSUE
Whether or not Florenda Castro is guilty of the crime of parricide.
RULING
YES. The Court is convinced that the evidence for the People proved beyond reasonable doubt that appellant Florenda is guilty of parricide for the killing of her husband Alfredo and for murder for the death of her father-in-law Elpidio. The crime of parricide, defined in Article 246 of the Revised Penal Code, states:
Art. 246. Parricide. – Any person who shall kill his father, mother, or child, whether legitimate or illegitimate, or any of his ascendants, or descendants, or his spouse, shall be guilty of parricide and shall be punished by the penalty of reclusion perpetua to death.
Parricide is committed when: (1) a person is killed; (2) the deceased is killed by the accused; (3) the deceased is the father, mother, or child, whether legitimate or illegitimate, or a legitimate other ascendant or other descendant, or the legitimate spouse of accused.
The records bear out that appellant Florenda conspired and confederated with her co-appellant Christopher in carrying out the brutal killing of Alfredo and Elpidio. While Christopher acted as the gunman, Florenda sowed the seeds of violence by masterminding the reprehensible deed. Undeniably, their concerted actions showed a community of purpose and design that formed a chain of evidence that established a conspiracy to commit parricide and murder.
