THE murder case of Renato Llenes—the self-confessed killer of 16-year-old Christine Lee Silawan—will be automatically dismissed after he was found dead inside a cell in the Lapu-Lapu City Jail on Sunday, May 24, 2020.

Llenes’s death, which authorities ruled as a suicide, does not mean the Silawan family has attained justice.

City Prosecutor Ruso Zaragoza said the prosecution cannot continue after the accused’s death.

Before his death, Llenes had been facing trial. However, the hearings were disrupted when Lapu-Lapu City was placed under community quarantine, which was implemented to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus disease.

There are still about 20 witnesses, including the ones from Llenes’ camp, to give their testimonies.

Aside from murder, Llenes was also charged with illegal possession of firearms.

He had another victim; he was charged with rape and child abuse.

Llenes had confessed to the murder of Silawan whose body was found full of stab wounds and whose skin was ripped off her face.

The girl’s was found in an isolated area in Barangay Bankal, Lapu-Lapu City on March 11, 2019.

Based on Llenes’s confession, he was under the influence of drugs when the crime was committed. Llenes killed Silawan after she refused his sexual advances. (FVQ, JKV)