Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Criminal EVIDENCE
Criminal EVIDENCE
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
EVIDENCE
I. PRELIMINARY CONSIDERATION:
A. Importance of the study of Evidence in Law Enforcement:
As an element of our Criminal Justice System, it is the duty of every law
enforcement agencies to provide the prosecution with the materials and information
(Evidence) necessary in order to support conviction.
Every person is entitled to be presumed innocent of a crime or wrong, unless proven
otherwise. This is a prima facie presumption which must be overcome by proof beyond
reasonable doubt.
B. Connecting the chain of events through Evidence during Trial:
Trial refers to the examination before a competent tribunal, according to the laws of the
land, of the facts in issue in a cause, for the purposes of determining such issue (U.S. v.
Raymundo, 14 Phil 416).
Evidence helps in the determination of Questions of Facts by helping the judge reconstruct
the chain of events from the conception up to the consummation of a criminal design.
C. Factum Probandum and Factum Probans
Factum Probandum The ultimate facts to be proven. These are the propositions of law.
Examples:
murder was committed thru treachery
robbery was made through force upon things
Factum Probans The evidentiary Facts. These addresses questions of fact.
Examples:
exit wounds were in front indicating that victim was shot at the back
destroyed locks indicative of force upon things
Thus, the outcome of every trial is determined by:
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
proceeding, the truth, respecting a matter of fact.
Proof the result of introducing evidence. The establishment of a requisite degree of belief
in the mind of the judge as to the facts in issue. It refers to the accumulation of evidence
sufficient to persuade the trial court.
Quantum of evidence the totality of evidence presented for consideration
Quantum of proof refers to the degree of proof required in order to arrive at a conclusion.
Burden of evidence the duty of a party of going forward with evidence.
Burden of proof the duty of the affirmative to prove that which it alleges.
Variations on degrees of proof based on type of action:
1. Criminal Action proof beyond reasonable doubt [that degree of proof which
produces conviction in an unprejudiced mind]
2. Civil Action preponderance of evidence [evidence of greater weight or more
convincing than that which is offered to refute it]
3. Administrative Action sufficiency of evidence [that amount of relevant evidence
which a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to justify a conclusion]
E. Exclusionary Rule. (Fruit of the poisonous tree doctrine)
Evidence ILLEGALY OBTAINED are inadmissible for reasons of public policy. This is so
because of the constitutional requirement of due process. Due process has been defined as
the law that hears before it condemns, which proceeds upon inquiry, and renders judgment
only after fair trial.
As a result, jurisprudence has evolved a rule that renders inadmissible any evidence
obtained in an illegal search from being introduced in trial.
F. Principle of Chain of Custody of Evidence
If the evidence is of a type which cannot be easily recognized or can readily be confused or
tampered with, the proponent of the object mustpresent evidence of its chain of custody.
The proponent need not negate all possibilities of substitution or tampering in the chain of
custody, but must show that:
The evidence is identified as the same object which was taken from the scene;
It was not tampered with, or that any alteration can be sufficiently explained (i.e.
discoloration due to the application of ninhydrine solution, etc.); and
The persons who have handled the evidence are known and may be examined in court with
regard to the object.
II. GENERAL PROVISIONS:
A. Concepts of evidence:
1.
2.
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
and admissibility
3. It is used in a judicial proceeding there is a jural conflict involving different rights
asserted by different parties
4. It pertains to the truth respecting a matter of fact evidence represents a claim
either for the prosecution or for the defense where issues (clashes of view) are present.
Admissibility of Evidence:
For evidence to be admissible, it must be:
1) relevant to the issue [relevancy test], and
2) not excluded by the law or rules of court [competency test].
Note: To determine the relevancy of any item of proof, the purpose for which it is sought to
be introduced must first be known (There must be a formal offer).
Test of relevancy of evidence:
Whether or not the factual information tendered for evaluation of the trial court would be
helpful in the determination of the factual issue that is disputed.
When is evidence relevant?
When it has a relation to the fact in issue as to induce belief in its:
1) existence, or
2) non-existence
In other words, evidence is relevant when it is:
1) material, and
2) has probative value
What is meant by probative value?
It is the tendency of the evidence to establish the proposition that it is offered to prove.
Collateral Matters not admissible except when it tend in any reasonable degree to
establish probability or improbability of the fact in issue.
Collateral matters matters other than the fact in issue and which are offered as a basis for
inference as to the existence or non-existence of the facts in issue.
Collateral matters are classified into:
1. Antecedent circumstances facts existing before the commission of the crime [i.e.
hatred, bad moral character of the offender, previous plan, conspiracy, etc.]
2. Concomitant circumstances facts existing during the commission of the crime [i.e.
opportunity, presence of the accused at the scene of the crime, etc.]
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
3. Subsequent circumstances facts existing after the commission of the crime [i.e.
flight, extrajudicial admission to third party, attempt to conceal effects of the crime,
possession of stolen property, etc.]
Query: Is modus operandi an antecedent, concomitant or subsequent circumstance?
B. Judicial Notice, basis of:
Judicial notice is based on necessity and expediency. This is so because what is known need
not be proved.
Different kinds of judicial notices:
1.
2.
3.
mandatory
discretionary
hearing required
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
11. Expert evidence the testimony of one possessing knowledge not usually acquired by
other persons.
12. Prima facie evidence evidence which can stand alone to support a conviction unless
rebutted.
13. Conclusive evidence incontrovertible evidence
14. Cumulative evidence additional evidence of the same kind bearing on the same
point.
15. Corroborative evidence additional evidence of a different kind and character tending
to prove the same point as that of previously offered evidence.
16. Character evidence evidence of a persons moral standing or personality traits in a
community based on reputation or opinion.
17. Demeanor evidence the behavior of a witness on the witness stand during trial to be
considered by the judge on the issue of credibility.
18. Demonstrative evidence evidence that has tangible and exemplifying purpose.
19. Hearsay evidence oral testimony or documentary evidence which does not derive its
value solely from the credit to be attached to the witness himself.
20. Testimonial evidence oral averments given in open court by the witness.
21. Object/Auotoptic proferrence/Real evidence those addressed to the senses of the
court (sight, hearing, smell, touch, taste).
22. Documentary evidence those consisting of writing or any material containing letters,
words, numbers, figures, symbols or other modes of written expression offered as proof of
its contents.
Best Evidence Rule:
When the subject of the inquiry is the contents of a document, no evidence shall be
admissible other than the original of the document.
For exceptions, see Sec. 3, Rule 130, Revised Rules of Court.
A document is legally considered Original when:
1. It is the subject of an inquiry
2. When in two or more copies executed at or about the same time, with identical
contents.
3. When an entry is repeated in ordinary course of business, one being copied from
another at or near the time of the transaction.
Question: May a fake document be considered as original or authentic?
Yes. A forged or spurious document when presented in court for examination is considered
as the original fake/forged document. Thus, a mere photocopy of the allegedly forged or
spurious document is only secondary to the original questioned document.
Secondary Evidence
When the original document has been:
1. lost,
2. destroyed, or
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
3.
by
by
by
by
a co-partner or agent
a conspirator
privies
silence
In the above cases, the admission of one person is admissible as evidence against another.
Testimonial Knowledge:
General Rule: A witness can testify only to those facts which he knows of his personal
knowledge; that is, which are derived from his own perception. Any statement which derives
its strength from anothers personal knowledge is hearsay, and is therefore inadmissible.
Exceptions:
1. Dying declarations (ante-mortem statements)
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
for a different mode of answer, the answer of the witness shall be given orally.
Rights and Obligations of witnesses:
1. To be protected from irrelevant, improper, or insulting questions, and from harsh or
insulting demeanor.
2. Not to be detained longer than the interest of justice requires.
3. Not to be examined except only as to matters pertinent to the issue.
4. Not to give an answer which will tend to subject him to a penalty for an offense unless
otherwise provided by law.
5. Not to give an answer which will tend to degrade his reputation, unless it be to the very
fact at issue or to the fact from which the fact in issue would be presumed, but a witness
must answer to the facts of his previous final conviction for an offense.
Order of Examination of individual witnesses:
Direct examination by the proponent
Cross examination by the opponent
Re-direct examination by the proponent
Re-cross examination by the opponent
Direct examination the examination in chief of a witness by the party presenting him on
the facts relevant to the issue.
Cross examination the examination by the adverse party of the witness as to any matter
stated in the direct examination, or connected therewith, with sufficient fullness and
freedom from interest or bias, or the reverse, and to elicit all important facts bearing upon
the issue.
Re-direct examination second questioning by the proponent to explain or supplement
answers given in the cross examination.
Re-cross examination second questioning by the adverse party on matters stated on the
re-direct and also on such matters as may be allowed by court.
Different Types of Questions:
Leading questions It is one where the answer is already supplied by the examiner into the
mouth of the witness. [Ex. You saw Jose killed Juan because you were present when it
happened, didnt you?]
Misleading question a question which cannot be answered without making an unintended
admission. [Ex. Do you still beat your wife?]
Compound question a question which calls for a single answer to more than one question.
[Ex. Have you seen and heard him?]
Argumentative question a type of leading question which reflects the examiners
interpretation of the facts. [Ex. Why were you driving carelessly?]
Speculative question a question which assumes a disputed fact not stated by the witness
as true. [Ex. The victim cried in pain, didnt he?]
Conclusionary question a question which asks for an opinion which the witness is not
qualified or permitted to answer. [Ex. Asking a highschool drop-out whether the gun used is
a Cal. 45 pistol or 9mm pistol]
Cumulative question a question which has already been asked and answered.
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
Harassing/Embarrassing question [Ex. Are you a homosexual?]
Classes of Documents:
Documents are either public or private.
Public documents are:
1. The written official acts, or records of the official acts of sovereign authority, official
bodies and tribunals, and public officers, whether of the Philippines, or a foreign country.
2. Documents acknowledged before a notary public except last willsand testaments.
3. Public records (1) kept in the Philippines, or private documents (2) required by law to
be entered therein.
All other writings are private.
reviewers J #sirrEsca
MATT.WILFREDSON.AGQUIZ.ESCALLAR
Criminal Evidence
Actus reus guilty act.
Res ipsa loquitor the thing speaks for itself.
Causa Proxima proximate cause which produced the immediate effect.
Prima facie at first glance.
Locus Criminis scene of the crime or crime scene.
Pro Reo principle in Criminal Law which states that where the statute admits of several
interpretations, the one most favorable to the accused shall be adopted.
Res Gestae the thing itself.
Falsus in unum, falsus in omnibus false in one part of the statement would render the
entire statement false (note: this maxim is not recognized in our jurisdiction).