THE PHILIPPINES. SC INSISTS ECHEGARAY EXECUTION WAS CORRECT
the Philippines Supreme Court stood firm on its 1996 ruling that sent convicted rapist Leo Echegaray to his death, in light of a brewing storm over a public statement by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban that the court may have committed an irreversible “j
the Philippines Supreme Court stood firm on its 1996 ruling that sent convicted rapist Leo Echegaray to his death, in light of a brewing storm over a public statement by Chief Justice Artemio Panganiban that the court may have committed an irreversible “judicial error” in the case.
“No! No! No! The court will stand by its decision,” court spokesperson Ismael Khan said, when asked if the high tribunal felt responsible for Echegaray’s execution by lethal injection seven years previously.
Talking to reporters, Panganiban said that Echegaray should not have been executed but meted out a penalty of life imprisonment.
Echegaray, a house painter, was condemned to death by a trial court for the rape of the 10-year-old daughter of his common-law wife.
The Supreme Court later affirmed the trial court’s verdict, clearing the way for his execution in 1999.
Panganiban said the trial court failed to prove that Echegaray was the father or stepfather of the girl, which would have made his crime heinous and, thus, punishable by death.
“No! No! No! The court will stand by its decision,” court spokesperson Ismael Khan said, when asked if the high tribunal felt responsible for Echegaray’s execution by lethal injection seven years previously.
Talking to reporters, Panganiban said that Echegaray should not have been executed but meted out a penalty of life imprisonment.
Echegaray, a house painter, was condemned to death by a trial court for the rape of the 10-year-old daughter of his common-law wife.
The Supreme Court later affirmed the trial court’s verdict, clearing the way for his execution in 1999.
Panganiban said the trial court failed to prove that Echegaray was the father or stepfather of the girl, which would have made his crime heinous and, thus, punishable by death.
— SOURCES
- (Sources: Inquirer, 13/06/2006)