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Saturday, September 24, 2005
Pinay slay suspect to undergo mental tests
By Marie S. Neri
SINGAPORE -- The suspect in the grisly murder of Filipino domestic helper Jane La Puebla in Singapore will undergo psychiatric evaluation soon.
Philippine Ambassador Belen Anota said that as a result, the hearing on the murder case against Guen Aguilar, also a Filipino, was moved by the Subordinate Court headed by Court Magistrate Carolyn Wee to October 14 at 1 p.m.
Anota said the Singapore police have already completed their investigation on the case and the psychiatric evaluation would soon follow. The defense panel said they want Aguilar to go through with the tests.
"The defense also manifested that they want to have their own psychiatric evaluation of Guen and the judge said the case would be heard again on October 14," Anota said in an impromptu press briefing held at the Philippine Embassy along Nassim Road here.
On the other hand, Ranvir Kumar Singh, the embassy's representative, said the decision to reset the hearing was made upon the request of the Singaporean police. This is to give police more time to conduct the investigation and determine if there is enough evidence to elevate the case to a higher court.
"The police asked for the postponement because this is the stage where police do an in-depth investigation (to determine) if the case merits further trial," Singh added.
Although they still don't have evidence that would show that Aguilar had an accomplice in the murder case, Singh said "one can't rule out that possibility."
"The embassy is taking steps to preserve the interests of both parties," Singh added, referring to the victim's family as well as that of the suspect.
However, lawyer Sashi Nathen, Aguilar's defense counsel, said the suspect's involvement in the grisly killing of La Puebla cannot be assumed. Nathen meet Aguilar and said he was able to gather some information.
"At the moment, I'm not going to say that she is involved (because) she has given me an overview of what happened and I have a rough idea of the big picture but I have to fill in some gaps," Nathen said.
During a four-hour meeting with Aguilar last Thursday, Nathen said the suspect was "very much sad with the predicament she is in and extremely concerned about her husband and their two sons."
While Aguilar remains as lone suspect in the case, Nathen they are now working on two possible defenses that they could capitalize as the hearing progresses. "We have two potential defenses but its still premature to divulge them," he added.
Asked if mental illness or temporary insanity can be used as defense, Nathen said it could be but it may only result in possible amendment of the charges against Aguilar, adding that a psychiatric evaluation is standard procedure in all murder cases because the court wants to know the state of mind of the suspect when the crime took place.
A love triangle aspect in the case was outright dismissed by Nathen, who said "we don't have evidence (of that) so it's premature to speculate."
The first hearing on the murder case against Aguilar started at 9:15 a.m. and lasted less than 10 minutes. Aguilar was wearing a white blouse when she appeared in court along with other prisoners.
A bulletproof glass divider separated observers from the judge and the lawyers while Aguilar was seated on the right side along with other accused. Five policemen stood as Aguilar's guards.
Six police officers patrolled the area designated for public viewing and three monitor televisions are placed in the middle of the court room.
In the court room, Aguilar's husband Edwin and Crusaldo, the victim's husband, were both present in the hearing. Crusaldo arrived with the brother of Ilocos Sur Governor Luis "Chavit" Singson while Edwin was accompanied by Tagudin Mayor Roque Versoza.
Ambassador Anota said that both parties will be given assistance. "The embassy is giving its full and total support to both families," Anota said.
Anota also said they expect Singaporean forensic experts to complete their autopsy of La Puebla's body Saturday, after which the body parts will be released to the Philippine Embassy, which in turn will arrange for the immediate repatriation of the remains to the Philippines together with Crusaldo and the victim's aunt Sally Parangan, who both arrived in Singapore last Tuesday.
Aguilar allegedly killed La Puebla and chopped her body to pieces. She placed the body parts in two bags, which she left in separate places in Singapore's commercial and leisure district. (Sunnex)
(September 24, 2005 issue)
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