Jury starts deliberation on Valerio murder case

The seven-member jury to the Cesario B. Valerio murder case began yesterday deliberation on the fate of one of the suspects, Eugene Repeki, Jr. who is on trial for manslaughter and aggravated assault of a security guard on May 4, 1999.

Defense and prosecution panels sealed their arguments before jurors yesterday after government prosecutors presented to the Superior Court pieces of evidence that could substantiate the 21-year-old suspect’s alleged involvement in the crime, along with two other young suspects.

In the prosecution’s closing argument, Asst. Atty. General Keith Cable described Mr. Valerio’s death as “senseless,” pinpointing Mr. Repeki as a perpetrator behind the victim’s killing.

The alleged co-conspirators, Thomas Basa and Anthony B. Magofna, who issued testimonies against the suspect on trial, gave credence to accusations that Mr. Repeki is guilty of “viciously and brutally” murdering Mr. Valerio, according to Mr. Cable.

Mr. Basa and Mr. Magofna took the witness stand early this week and shared details of events that took place in May of last year.

The prosecution lawyer summed up testimonies relayed by Department of Public Safety officers which, Mr. Cable added, only bolstered the prosecution’s contention.

Defense counsel Danny Aguilar, in his closing argument, qualified the two other suspects’ testimony as “self-serving” in efforts to clear their names before they get tried for the same charges next year.

Mr. Aguilar maintained that his client, Mr. Repeki, performed an act of self defense against the late Mr. Valerio, who carried with him a pair of sewing scissors during the encounter between him, Mr. Basa and Mr. Magofna.

He further characterized the fight between the suspects and the victim as a “simple fight” while another prosecution lawyer described the acts of the suspects as “lynch-mob mentality,” when they allegedly ganged up on the victim.

Jurors continue their deliberation today based on the set of evidence presented during the last three days of the trial.

Mr. Valerio, the victim, was a security guard on duty at Courtney’s Plaza Commercial Bldg. in Chalan Kanoa when he was attacked by three men on May 4, 1999 at around 12:59 a.m.

Severely beaten, the police rushed him to the Commonwealth Health Center and was later on transferred to St. Luke’s Hospital in Manila, where he later died due to severe head injury.

An investigation conducted by Police Capt. Delbert Sablan revealed that all the three men took turns in hitting Mr. Valerio with a two-feet ashtray which caused a fracture in his skull.

Capt. Sablan interviewed Mr. Magofna, one of the suspects, on March 9, 2000 who admitted his participation in the crime.

Based on Mr. Magofna’s story, he and his brother-in-law Mr. Repeki, as well as his cousin Mr. Basa went out drinking on the evening of May 3, 1999.

When they left the bar, they urinated at the side of City Outlet building where Mr. Valerio, who was then at the second floor of the establishment. Fighting ensued after the victim yelled at the suspects.

The three men rushed to the building and Mr. Magofna claimed he saw Mr. Valerio holding a pair of scissors and threatening to stab them. They then fought back by hitting Mr. Valerio with a two-feet ashtray and took turns in kicking him.