People v. Sánchez Lugo

96 P.R. 480
CourtSupreme Court of Puerto Rico
DecidedOctober 2, 1968
DocketNo. CR-67-276
StatusPublished

This text of 96 P.R. 480 (People v. Sánchez Lugo) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Puerto Rico primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Sánchez Lugo, 96 P.R. 480 (prsupreme 1968).

Opinion

Mr. Justice Hernández Matos

delivered the opinion of the Court.

The prosecuting attorney filed an information against appellant, ftamonita Sánchez Lugo, in the Superior Court, [482]*482Mayagiiez Part, charging her with the commission of three offenses defined by the Weapons Law of Puerto Rico, 1951, to wit:

1st. — Violation of § 8, felony, consisting in that on February 24, 1967 and in Mayagiiez, defendant, illegally, wil-fully, and maliciously, was bearing, carrying, and transporting, a loaded revolver, for the purpose of offense and defense, without having a license to carry weapons issued by the Part of the Superior Court corresponding to her domicile, or by the Chief of Police of Puerto Rico, said revolver being a firearm with which grave bodily injury may be caused.

2nd. — Violation of § 6, misdemeanor, consisting in that defendant, on the date, place, and circumstances aforementioned, illegally, wilfully, and maliciously, had in her possession and control the same revolver, without having .previously obtained a license issued by the Chief of Police of Puerto Rico, or by the Superior Court, Mayagiiez Part, for the possession thereof.

3rd. — Violation of § 32(a), misdemeanor, consisting in that “Said defendant, on the date, place, and under the circumstances stated, illegally, wilfully, maliciously, and intentionally, fired several shots with a revolver, which is a firearm, in the presence of persons who could have received bodily injuries, without it being in self-defense, and without said defendant being in the discharge of official duties of any kind whatsoever.”

The three counts were tried jointly, on June 22, 1967, the first by a jury and the second and third, both misdemeanors, by the court.

The jury returned a verdict of not guilty in relation to the bearing, carrying, and transporting of the loaded weapon.

After the verdict was read, the presiding judge found defendant guilty of the misdemeanor charges, making the following statements:

[483]*483“Judge:
“The others are submitted to the consideration of the court, by the court without a jury. The court regrets to state that it does not concur with the opinion of the jury and, on the other hand, it understands • that there is evidence beyond reasonable doubt to find that lady guilty, and therefore, in case M-67-242, the court finds her guilty of a violation of § 6 of the Weapons Law, misdemeanor. And in case M-67-243, it finds her guilty of a violation of § 32(a). As to the date for the pronouncement of sentence, defendant, please sit down over there.”

The defense moved for reconsideration, and while it argued its motion the judge interrupted in the following terms:

“Judge:
“Colleague, do not waste any more time. The court believed the evidence of the People. Especially that of Celedonio Muñiz, post-office employee, who heard her speak spontaneously at the time of the commotion, from which the facts arise. When she is surprised by him and he seized her and seized her husband and she says ‘let him go, he is not guilty, I am the guilty one and I fired the shots.’ Those sincere and spontaneous statements were believed by the court. The court has not believed the explanation she gave as to why she said them. Hence, the court believes and understands that there is sufficient evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, to convict her. And that, furthermore, the evidence on the ‘corpus delicti’ is very abundant in the three cases. If the jury did not believe the evidence, or understood it otherwise, or wanted to favor the defendant with a verdict of not guilty, because of pity, or for whatever reason, the court cannot, should not, and need not abide by the decision of the jury. Sincerely and honestly, the court understands that the defendant is guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt. For that reason, it has found her guilty in these cases. Therefore, it denies our colleague’s motion for reconsideration.”

Subsequently, the defense presented a petition entitled “Motion for New Trial,” which was opposed by the prosecuting attorney. The new trial was denied. But the judge reconsidered his judgment as to the second charge of the pos[484]*484session and control of the revolver by the defendant, without having a license therefor, and acquitted her of violation of § 6 of said Act.

As to the remaining third count, as it appears from the minutes of September 29, 1967,

“The court understands that the evidence presented in case M-67-243 supports said offense and it leaves in full force and effect the judgment rendered.”

Judgment was rendered for violation of § 32(a) of the Weapons Law of Puerto Rico, sentencing defendant to one year in jail. The probation officer having rendered a report “favorable to defendant’s interest” the court stayed the effects of the sentence, permitting defendant to serve the same on probation as long as she complied with the nine conditions imposed by the court.

On this appeal, appellant assigns the commission of the following errors:

“FIRST ERROR
“The trial court committed error of fact and of law in finding defendant guilty of a violation of § 32(a) of the Weapons Law, on the sole ground of the extrajudicial admissions or confessions that she made in the post office immediately after the incident which occurred therein.
“SECOND ERROR
“The trial court committed error of law, in admitting in evidence a handbag which, according to witness Celedonio Muñiz, was found about two weeks before the hearing of the case in one of the mailboxes which the post office has in different places in the city of Mayagüez, without having established a truthful sequence of the possession of said handbag, and without having submitted the same to an expert examination to determine that the two holes which appeared thereon had been caused by firearm shots.
[485]*485 “THIRD ERROR
“The trial court erred in denying the defendant’s petition to the effect that the handbag be submitted to expert examination before rendering judgment against her.”

Before proceeding to the examination of the errors assigned, we shall insert in this opinion the following recital of the evidence offered at the trial by both parties, which the Solicitor General himself makes in his report:

“The evidence for the People consisted of the testimony of María L. Mingúela, who, in synthesis, testified that about 6:00 or 6:30 p.m. on February 24, 1967, she went to the post office in Mayagfiez, to get her mail. (Tr. Ev. 8.) While she was reading a letter she had received that day, appellant’s husband arrived and they began to talk. They were talking, when appellant arrived at the post office and asked her husband what was he doing there. When he did not answer, appellant asked the witness what was he telling her; the witness answered that he was telling her that he wanted to get a divorce, but that appellant did not give her consent.

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