‘Logic’ acquits man from attempted murder rap

MANILA, Philippines - For a story that defied logic, a Quezon City judge dropped the charges against a man accused of trying to kill his neighbor almost seven years ago.

In a three-page decision promulgated yesterday, Regional Trial Court Branch 221 assisting judge Genie Gapas-Agbada ordered the acquittal of Reynaldo de Leon, who was charged with the attempted murder of his neighbor, Khrissan Abbey Nad, on July 13, 2007.

“The prosecution’s version that the complainant remained seated on the bench while the accused approached him with a lead pipe… is not in accord with human experience,” said the judge.

“It defies reason, logic and experience why the private complainant did not leave the bench as what his companions did,” she added.

During the trial, the prosecution alleged that Nad was sitting on a bench with two of his friends when the suspect shouted and threatened to kill him. De Leon allegedly went to his vehicle, where he grabbed a lead pipe and started hitting the victim, who evaded the attacks.

De Leon argued that it was the complainant who hit him with a piece of wood, and the attempted murder charge was being used as a leverage for the cases of grave threats and physical injuries he filed against the complainant.