Monday, July 16, 2007 Family of Aussie’s slain GF won’t file charges v. suspect
THE Australian national who accidentally shot and killed his Filipina fiancée has been released by police after posting a P35,000 bail.
Paul Anton Balen Smith, 32, of Ultimo Sydney, Australia, who was charged with homicide for the death of Trishia Jocel Baisac, 30, was released Wednesday afternoon, said Homicide Section Chief Mario Monilar.
The release order was signed by Regional Trial Court Judge Fortunato de Gracia Jr.
Monilar said the Homicide Section will furnish a copy of the case to the Bureau of Immigration.
Baisac’s siblings, who arrived in Cebu City from Gingoog City, had told they will no longer question the circumstances of her death.
Rest in peace
“We don’t want any more hassles. We just want her to rest in peace and bring her body back to Gingoog,” said Mary Joy Libradilla.
She added that Smith also assured them to help finance the burial expenses and in transporting Baisac’s body back to her hometown.
Surrender
Smith gave himself up to police last Monday after bringing Baisac to Chong Hua Hospital.
Baisac, who was Smith’s girlfriend of two years, did not make it alive at the hospital for a gunshot wound in the upper left side of her body.
Smith narrated to Monilar that he and Baisac were talking while he was playing with a licensed Glock 9mm pistol, registered under Baisac’s name.
The gun, however, accidentally went off hitting Baisac in her body.
Smith ran downstairs and called his houseboys, Ferry Jun Etac and Faustino Atienza Jr., to get a taxicab, which brought Baisac to the hospital.
Personnel from the Scene of the Crime Operations 7 led by PO3 Ronolo Manolong recovered the 9mm pistol, a magazine loaded with 12 live ammunition and another magazine with 14 live ammunition, 10 pieces of live ammunition, an empty shell of 9mm, a stainless knife and a bloodstained shirt. (JST)
