Man, cleared by court of robbery, shot dead

A 43-YEAR-OLD man who had just been cleared of a robbery case was shot dead along Quezon Boulevard on his way home from the court hearing, Tuesday morning.

Senior Inspector, Ronald Lao identified the victim as Leo Piñero Suico, married, of Mini-Forest, Barangay 23-C.

Police said two unidentified men riding a motorcycle shot Suico as he alighted from a passenger jeepney from the Hall of Justice at around 10:50 a.m. Tuesday.

According to the victim's wife Virgie, they attended the pre-trial of the robbery with intimidation of person case filed against his husband before the Regional Trial Court (RTC).

On their way home, she said, an unidentified man boarded the same passenger jeepney they were riding along Quezon Boulevard.

As they alighted, that man shot Suico several times and then rode a motorcycle that was following the jeepney.

Scene of the Crime Operatives (Soco) recovered three empty shells of .45 caliber at the crime scene.

The body of the victim was brought to Angel Funeral Homes on F. Torres Street for proper disposition.

Meanwhile, RTC Branch 14 presiding judge George Omelio, in an interview, said the case filed against victim has just been dismissed after the complainant Maria Theresa O. de Castro, 19, manifested that it was not the victim who robbed her.

"So the defense moved for the dismissal of the case and the prosecution approved it with the conformity of the complainant," Omelio told Sun.Star Davao, adding that the dismissal of the case happened in an open court during the supposedly pre-trial of the case.

As of presstime, Sta. Ana police are still conducting follow-up operation for the possible identification and arrest of the Suico's killers.