People Of The Philippines v. Sota

MARTIRES, J.:

This resolves the appeal of Golem Sota (Sota) and Amidal Gadjadli (Gadjadli) from the Decision1 dated 29 February 2012 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CR HC No. 00801-MIN which affirmed, but modified as to the penalty and damages, the Joint Decision2 dated 19 October 2009 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 28, Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte (RTC) in Criminal Case Nos. L-00355 and L-00356, finding them guilty of Murder and Arson. THE FACTS Sota and Gadjadli were charged before the RTC with murder and arson committed as follows: Criminal Case No. L-00355 That, in the evening, on or about the 19th day of November, 1999, in the [M]unicipality of Labason, Zamboanga del Norte, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the above-accused, armed with a handgun and a hunting knife, conspiring, confederating together and mutually helping one another and with intent to kill, by means of treachery and evident premeditation, did then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously attack, assault, shoot and stab one ARTEMIO EBA, thereby inflicting upon him multiple gunshot wounds and multiple stab wounds on the different vital parts of his body, which caused his instantaneous death; that as a result of the commission of the said crime the heirs of the herein victim suffered the following damages, viz: a) Indemnity for victim's death ₱50,000.00 b) Loss of earning capacity 30,000.00