MANILA: Public prosecutors yesterday presented in court a portion of a video clip taken by a closed circuit television security camera (CCTV) allegedly showing the fatal mauling of former United States Marine George Anikow in the early hours of November 24 near a posh subdivision in Makati City.
However, the credibility of the clip, shown during the resumption of the trial for murder against four young men accused of beating and stabbing Anikow dead, was questioned by their lawyers. This prompted Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 59 Judge Winlove Dumayas to ask the Rockwell Centre security that the original CCTV footage be surrendered to the court. Before the clip was shown in court, prosecution lawyers presented Damasino Dosonan, Jr, the detachment commander of the Rockwell Centre to authenticate the video clip.
Dosonan testified having received a letter from the Makati Police requesting for a copy of the CCTV footage of the incident.
Assistant Chief Prosecutor Hannah Arriola then asked the court if the video clip could then be shown. However, the motion was quickly countered by Jacinto Ende, lawyer for Crispin de la Paz who questioned the clip’s authenticity. Ende argued that what was about to be shown in court is just a copy of the original CCTV security video. Lawyer Miguel Damaso, counsel for accused Juan Alfonzo Abastillas, also argued that while the defence lawyers have the same copy of the video footage, this does not warrant its authenticity.
Damaso then asked the court if they could be allowed to compare the CCTV footage with the one in their possession.
The Philippine star
