Man who “killed” 2-year-old boy to undergo pre-trial today

CEBU, Philippines - Forty nine days after his arraignment, Kienner Baller, the man accused of killing a two-year old boy in Barangay Biasong, Talisay City will have his pre-trial today.

 Baller was charged for the non-bailable offense of murder. He was accused of slamming the head of the victim on the pavement causing the latter’s death.  He was detained at Talisay City Jail.

 For the second time, the prosecution and the defense team will be meeting for the pre-trial of the case after the arraignment last September 17, 2012.

 A pre-trial is a proceeding held before an official trial to clarify points of law and issues to be resolved.

 The complaint was filed by Jeffrey Abucejo Sr., the father of the victim.

 He said that at around 5:30 p.m. on August 28, 2012, while he was at the back of their house, he heard his wife shouting.  His wife told him that their son was pulled by Baller and slammed on the pavement near their house.

Abucejo added that they brought their son to the Talisay City District Hospital and then transferred him to the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. However, the attending physician declared his son dead on arrival.

Ruth Saniel, sister of the accused, stated in her affidavit that while she was at the beach near their house, she saw her brother with blood on his shoulder.

 She went home to verify what happened and found out that her brother killed the victim.  She then arrested the accused and turned him over to the responding police.

 According to Saniel, she was told by her brother that “he attacked the victim before he will be eaten by an alien.”

 Before the incident, the victim was playing with other kids when he was pulled by the accused. —MIT (FREEMAN)