Lawyer Vincent Isles, legal counsel of the suspect in the killing of Christine Lee Silawan. | File Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Between the “contradicting” autopsy findings of the Public Attorneys Office (PAO) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Crime Laboratory on the body of Christine Lee Silawan, defense lawyer Vincent Isles says the the latter is more “believable.”
Isles, in an interview with CDN Digital, said the case against his client had become “easier” to destroy considering the disparity in the opinion of experts on the brutal death of Silawan.
Isles is the legal counsel of the the 18-year-old alleged former boyfriend of Silawan who is now accused by the National Bureau of Investigation as the main suspect of the case.
“I do not know the expertise of Dr. Erwin Erfe (PAO). I have not conducted a cross examination sa testimony, but I have cross examined once Dr. Lara and as far as I am concerned, if you ask me, mas katuohan ang kang Dr. Lara (Dr. Lara’s findings are more believable),” Isles said.
Read more: PAO’s autopsy findings: Silawan was raped, face burned with sulfuric acid
Dr. Benjamin Lara, PNP Crime Laboratory in Central Visayas (PNP-7) chief, on Monday, April 8, maintained his earlier findings that Silawan was not raped.
Lara also refuted claims of the forensic division of PAO that Silawan was strangled while the crime was being committed.
Read more: Contradicting autopsy results can weaken case vs 17-year-old suspect — Isles
While Isles begged off from commenting on why PAO suggested the rape element in the crime, the lawyer lashed out at the agency for “dipping into the case.”
“We should be asking them that [on why they insist on the rape case] as well as we should ask them what is really their mandate. Why are they meddling in this investigation?” Isles said.
Read more: NBI – 7 to stick with PNP autopsy findings
The National Bureau of Investigation in Central Visayas (NBI-7), who acts as the complainant in the case, has adopted the autopsy findings of the PNP Crime Laboratory.
Isles also said that it is still questionable on how the PAO or the NBI, if they would adopt their new autopsy report, would submit the PAO autopsy findings when the Lapu-lapu City Prosecutors Office has earlier denied the motion of the NBI-7 for leave of court to gather more evidence./dbs