Monday, January 05, 2009 Coed, 20, uses karate skills in foiling robbery attempt
A HOUSEBOY was arrested for stabbing a 20-year-old female college student who tried to stop an alleged burglary attempt in her family’s house in White Hills, Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City Saturday night.
Zosimo G. Sohot, alias Titing, 29, who works as houseboy for the victim’s neighbor, was arrested more than six hours after attacking student Joyce S. Manguerra.
The burglary occurred at 11:45 p.m.
Manguerra, who has skills in karate, was taken to a private hospital for minor wounds in her nose, abdomen and arms, homicide investigator SPO4 Alex Dacua said.
Dacua, in a telephone interview with Sun.Star Cebu yesterday, said that shortly before the incident, Sohot allegedly spoke with Manguerra’s 14-year-old brother to ask for a bottle of imported wine which the suspect saw at the mini bar of the victim’s house.
Dacua said Manguer-ra’s brother, who was about to go out of the house with a friend, declined because the wine was owned by his father.
But instead of leaving the house, Sohot allegedly sneaked in through the kitchen door, inviting the dogs’ attention.
The dogs’ barking caught the attention of Manguerra, who was watching television in the living room.
Knife
Dacua said Manguerra found Sohot in the kitchen holding a knife. Sohot then attacked Manguerra.
Manguerra’s skills in karate proved useful in warding off the intruder and in preventing her from sustaining more serious injuries.
Dacua said Manguer-ra’s injuries in the arms were defense wounds.
The commotion inside the kitchen caught the attention of Manguerra’s brother.
When the brother rushed to the scene, the suspect fled, leaving behind the knife 11-and-a-half inches long.
Sohot was arrested at 6 a.m. yesterday in an operation conducted by Dacua’s team along Kaohsiung St. in Mandaue City.
The police team had been tipped of Sohot’s presence in the area.
Sohot had allegedly asked a friend to bring his personal belongings to Mandaue City because he was leaving for Ozamis City. (JTG)
