UPDATE!
Posted: Aug. 5, 2010, 8:11 p.m.
The carpenter did it–police{{more}}
DUMAGUETE CITY–Police are set to file murder charges against a carpenter of the Cornelio household for the Wednesday night murder of lawyer Martiniano Cornelio.
Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, Dumaguete City police chief, said the suspect, Pepito Zerna Kadusale of Tanjay City, is still on the run. However, they believe they have sufficient evidence to link him to the crime.
“He used the cellphone of Atty. Cornelio in calling his house in Tanjay yesterday (Thursday). For us that is sufficient evidence to charge him for the crime,” Cabanag said.
Witnesses described the suspect who was fleeing the scene of the crime as half-naked, aged 30-40, sporting long curly hair, 5 feet and 4 inches tall, fleeing the house bringing a backpack.
Cornelio, 78, was believed to be alone in the house with the suspect when he was murdered. His body was later found inside his septic tank wrapped in a blanket.
Police recovered a hammer, which was believed to have been used in the killing.
Police Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, Dumaguete Police Chief, said his investigators also found fingerprints on the doorknob. “We will match these fingerprints with the fingerprints of the suspect once we find him,” he said.
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, meanwhile, lauded Cabanag for the fast action that led to the identification of the suspect. “Even though the suspect is still at large, the case may be considered solved and the legal process will continue,” he said.
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Posted: Aug. 5, 2010, 5:03 a.m.
Dumaguete lawyer murdered
DUMAGUETE CITY–Police are searching for a lone male suspect who killed Dumaguete lawyer Martiniano Cornelio Wednesday night.
Cornelio’s two sons, Atty. Martin Gerard Cornelio and Engr. Jayson Cornelio found their father’s body wrapped in a blanket inside the septic tank of their house in barangay Bantayan at about 8 p.m.
There were visible injuries on his face and head and police have asked a doctor to examine the body for more injuries.
Cornelio, 78, was believed to be alone in their house when he was murdered.
Witnesses reported seeing a half-naked suspect, aged 30-40, sporting long curly hair, 5 feet and 4 inches tall, fleeing the house bringing a backpack about 7 p.m.
Cornelio’s sons found bloodstains in the kitchen, which the murderer had tried to wipe out. There also was a plastic chair by the cement wall believed used by suspect to get out of the walled compound.
Police recovered a hammer, which was believed to have been used in the killing.
Police Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, Dumaguete Police Chief, said his investigators found fingerprints on the doorknob. “We will match these fingerprints with the fingerprints of the suspect once we find him,” he said.
Cabanag said the suspect, who is from Tanjay City, did not go home last night.
Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria, meanwhile, ordered the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.
Sagarbarria went to the Cornelio house immediately after hearing of the incident. He said he is confident that the police would be able to solve this crime.
