Husband Of Us Diplomat Killed In Makati City

[Call me bubba]

latest news on the case,

this time about the Admissibilty of the CCTV(video) of the crime

Makati court rules on video footage of Marine’s slay

The Makati Regional Trial Court on Thursday agreed to hold a private viewing of the original video footage of the attack on slain United States Marine major George Anikow by four men at Bel-Air Subdivision last November.

Judge Winlove Dumayas of RTC Branch 59 allowed the viewing of the closed-circuit television footage on January 7 upon the request of prosecution lawyers.

The viewing will be done at the Rockwell Command Center, which operates the CCTV system of the entire Rockwell Center.

Both the prosecutors and the lawyers of the four accused in the Anikow murder trial will visit the RCC office to compare a copy of the video clip earlier shown in court to the original footage being kept by RCC personnel.

Prosecutor Hannah Arriola pushed for the private viewing to end the defense panel’s doubts on the authenticity of the video clip, which was recorded by a CCTV camera placed at the subdivision gate showing the four accused

– Juan Alfonso, Galicano Datu III, Crispin De la Paz, and Osric Cabrera –

ganging up on the 41-year-old American on November 24.

During Thursday’s hearing, defense lawyers argued that instead of going to the RCC, the hard drive containing the subject video clip should be taken out and brought to the court.

But Arriola explained that the hard drive could not be presented to the court as this would affect the operations of Rockwell Center’s CCTV system.

“They cannot detach that particular hard drive without affecting the operations of the CCTVs within Rockwell land and it appears that it will put a pause in their operations because several CCTVs have to turned off, “ Arriola said.

She maintained that the CCTV footage is vital in building up the case as this would be the basis of the testimony of the prosecution’s main witness, security guard Romel Saavedra.

The viewing of the controversial footage might also help identify who among the four actually stabbed Anikow to death, Arriola added.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/01/04/makati-court-rules-on-video-footage-of-marines-slay/

[FlyAway]

During Thursday’s hearing, defense lawyers argued that instead of going to the RCC, the hard drive containing the subject video clip should be taken out and brought to the court.

But Arriola explained that the hard drive could not be presented to the court as this would affect the operations of Rockwell Center’s CCTV system.

“They cannot detach that particular hard drive without affecting the operations of the CCTVs within Rockwell land and it appears that it will put a pause in their operations because several CCTVs have to turned off, “ Arriola said.

Poor data storage design there. So if that 1 single hard drive somehow disappears or crashes the whole case is now in jeopardy?

[i am bob]

During Thursday’s hearing, defense lawyers argued that instead of going to the RCC, the hard drive containing the subject video clip should be taken out and brought to the court.

But Arriola explained that the hard drive could not be presented to the court as this would affect the operations of Rockwell Center’s CCTV system.

“They cannot detach that particular hard drive without affecting the operations of the CCTVs within Rockwell land and it appears that it will put a pause in their operations because several CCTVs have to turned off, “ Arriola said.

Poor data storage design there. So if that 1 single hard drive somehow disappears or crashes the whole case is now in jeopardy?

I imagine that back-ups are done constantly of the hard drive - be it to another hard drive or tape. This is normal for pretty well all security systems. Unfortunately the defence is saying that a copy (same as the back-up) is not good enough.

[Call me bubba]

I imagine that back-ups are done constantly of the hard drive - be it to another hard drive or tape. This is normal for pretty well all security systems. .......

When I arrived here 1st time 2001 few, i mean very FEW places (i could count on 1 hand i recall) that had any CCTV set-ups and even those seemed to be CHEAPLY put to gether.

in the past 2-3 yrs(more like the past 18m) many more places have installed them., in the 2 or 3 "set-ups" i have seen its mostly a low cost (cheap) installation, ( the saying, you get what you paid for comes to mind)

compared to what I have seen.experienced in 1st world countries .

lets just hope that nothing happens to the "evidence" in this case

if something does.. the lawyers will wet their "shorts"(panties) to get a dismissal

[Thomas]

During Thursday’s hearing, defense lawyers argued that instead of going to the RCC, the hard drive containing the subject video clip should be taken out and brought to the court.

But Arriola explained that the hard drive could not be presented to the court as this would affect the operations of Rockwell Center’s CCTV system.

“They cannot detach that particular hard drive without affecting the operations of the CCTVs within Rockwell land and it appears that it will put a pause in their operations because several CCTVs have to turned off, “ Arriola said.

Poor data storage design there. So if that 1 single hard drive somehow disappears or crashes the whole case is now in jeopardy?

The defenders would surely CLAIM that,

BUT I don't believe they can make all copies at Internet disapear... :)

[Call me bubba]

latest news update on this case,seems that the guard has given some testimony (listed below is the news article)

MANILA, Philippines—The security guard who witnessed the fatal assault on US Marine Maj. George Anikow in Makati City testified in court on Thursday, recounting the predawn “rumble” between the American and four Filipino men.

Jose Romel Saavedra, however, admitted that he did not see who exactly among the four suspects stabbed Anikow, the husband of an American diplomat then posted in Manila, at a checkpoint in Bel-Air subdivision near Rockwell Center on Nov. 24 last year

Requiring a translator, the Southbend Security employee spent about four hours on the stand at the sala of Judge Winlove Dumayas of Makati Regional Trial Court–Branch 59, as the main prosecution witness in the murder case being monitored closely by the US Embassy.

He said a cheerful and drunk Anikow approached him coming from P. Burgos Street around 3:50 a.m. on Nov. 24, asking for the time Gate 4 on Rockwell Drive will open.

With Anikow still around, Saavedra then stopped an approaching Volvo SUV and asked the driver—suspect Juan Alfonso Abastillas—where he and his three companions in the vehicle were going.It was at this point, he said,

that Anikow butted in and, with a firm voice,told the suspects:

“Present your ID. The guard is checking you. Respect the guard, respect the guard.”Abastillas then turned to Saavedra and asked: “Sino ba ’yan (Who’s he?)”

Saavedra said he asked Abastillas to excuse Anikow’s behavior for he was drunk, and that he tried to create space between the two men by slightly pushing the American back

.As he removed the road cones to let the vehicle pass, Saavedra recalled, he heard a loud tap on the vehicle. Asked to describe how loud it was, he pounded the judge’s table.An exchange of foul words then ensued between Anikow and the Filipinos, he said.

Abastillas then moved the Volvo around five meters away from the checkpoint and the four Filipinos got off the vehicle.Saavedra said Anikow then punched one of the accused, knocking him to the ground. Saavedra said he tried to intervene but the fist-fight had begun.

He also thought of protecting the shotgun he was carrying since one of the brawlers might grab it.Anikow then ran toward P. Burgos but two of the suspects chased him, quickly followed by the other two.

Saavedra said he still did not know that Anikow was stabbed at that point.

Returning to their vehicle, the suspects then told the guard: “Gago ’yan (he’s crazy),” referring to the victim, and drove off toward Estrella Street. Saavedra then radioed for help

asAnikow lay bloodied on the pavement

.An ambulance came for the American 30 to 40 minutes later, he said, adding that Anikow was still breathing when he last checked him before he was taken to the hospital

.In an interview after the hearing, defense lawyer Jay de Castro said, “What’s good here was that we were able to show through Saavedra’s testimony that sufficient provocation and unlawful aggression started from Anikow.”

The lawyer also noted that “Mr. Anikow (who was described by Saavedra to be about six feet tall) was much heavier, bigger, taller than each of the accused, such that abuse of superior strength (a factor in proving murder) could not apply.

”But Hannah Arriola, the lone public prosecutor in the case, said

“They can say George Anikow was the one who started (the fight) or that it was the guard who was at fault because he did not stop Anikow or failed to use the necessary force to stop him.

They can say it was the fault of the ambulance for not arriving on time.

”“But at the end of the day, if they (the accused) did not stab him,if they did not gang up on him, there will be no need for an ambulance,” she said

ihttp://globalnation....ne-anikows-slay

if you have time, some of the comments made are really good,someone else made them and not me :thumbsup:

Edited January 17, 2013 by Pittman apartments Sgn

[MikeB]

Unless they passed the knife around in the middle of the fight only one of them did the stabbing. The others could reasonably argue they didn't know about the knife or that he was even stabbed.

Why did it take so long to get him to the hospital? It was 4 in the morning, little or no traffic. The initial reports in the paper said that it took an hour because the ambulance crew thought he was already dead and didn't rush. He could have been saved, they should investigate that.

[Dave Hounddriver]

I guess I have been here too long. The only thing that surprises me about the latest story is that there are not more of such events happening. Or maybe there are but the dead are not well connected.

Many foreign men get drunk and act like they are the most important beings in this universe. We learn to avoid them and just guide them home or call the cops when they start causing trouble. In Philippines they don't talk the talk, they knife the bugger. What part of that is hard to understand?

Are the accused guilty? In foreign eyes yes, in local eyes it is business as usual. I still cannot foresee any serious punishment being enforced on these culprits. Perhaps they will get charged and sentenced, but even then they will be free to go after the media heat is off.

[FlyAway]

Many foreign men get drunk and act like they are the most important beings in this universe. We learn to avoid them and just guide them home or call the cops when they start causing trouble. In Philippines they don't talk the talk, they knife the bugger. What part of that is hard to understand?

Or shoot them. Alcohol can have that affect on anyone. We just hear of it happening to foreigners because it is more news worthy.

[Call me bubba]

The others could reasonably argue they didn't know about the knife or that he was even stabbed.

looks like Blame not me is still being pursued. Hope that the judge will not fall for that :714_full_of_crap:

Why did it take so long to get him to the hospital?

This shows to me that

1.should not be out late at night

2. dont get drunk and provoke others

3. dont ever rely on the local heath care in an emergency situation