The United States v. Augustus Hicks G.R. No. 4971, September 23, 1909, J. Torres Doctrine of The Case

The United States v.
Augustus Hicks
G.R. No. 4971, September 23, 1909, J. Torres
Doctrine of the Case:
Evident Premeditation is present when all the foregoing circumstances conclusively prove that
the accused, deliberately and after due reflection had resolved to kill the woman who had left him for
another man
Facts:
The accused, Augustus Hicks (“accused”) had an illicit relationship with the victim, Agustina
Sola (“victim”) from September 1902 to November 1907. Unfortunately, the relationship between the
accused and the victim was troubled at the last-mentioned month of 1907, which resulted to their
separation. The victim left and went to live with her brother-in-law, Luis Corrales (“Luis”). A few days
later she contracted new relations with another man named Wallace Current, a corporal in the Army who
then went to live in the said house (“Corporal Current”).
The accused didn’t take this lightly and he, together with Edward Robinson (“Edward”), visited
the victim and Corporal Current in their current place. The accused was able to disguise himself as
someone who is ready for some gentleman conversation. Until the accused showed his true intentions
when he confronted Corporal Current and made a commotion. When the accused saw the victim, he drew
his revolver and fired at the victim who was close by in the sala of the house. The bullet struck her in the
left side of the breast; she fell to the ground, and died in a little more than an hour later.
In his defense, the accused argued that when he withdrew his hand from that of Corporal Current,
who had seized him, he fell backward but managed to support himself on his two hands, and when he got
up again the said Corporal Current threatened him with a revolver thrust into his face; whereupon he also
drew his revolver, just as Edward caught him from behind, when his revolver went off, the bullet striking
the victim.
Issue:
Whether the accused is liable for the crime of Murder qualified by Treachery and Evident
Premeditation.
Ruling:
Yes. The above-stated facts, which have been fully proven in the present case, constitute the crime of
murder, defined and punished by article 403 of the Penal Code (“Old Penal Code”), in that the victim met
a violent death, with the qualifying circumstance of treachery (alevosia), she being suddenly and roughly
attacked and unexpectedly fired upon with a 45-caliber revolver, at close, if not point blank range, while
the injured woman was unarmed and unprepared, and at a time when she was listening to a conversation,
in which she was concerned, between her aggressor and third person, and after usual and customary
words had passed between her and her aggressor. From all of the foregoing it is logically inferred that
means, manners, and forms were employed in attack that directly and specially insured the consummation
of the crime without such risk to the author thereof as might have been offered by the victim who, owing
to the suddenness of the attack, was doubtless unable to flee from the place where she was standing, or
even escape or divert the weapon.
In addition to the qualifying circumstance of treachery, as above referred to, the presence of other
aggravating circumstances, such as premeditation, and the fact that the crime was committed in the
dwelling of the deceased should be taken into consideration. The last-mentioned circumstances appears
proven from the testimony of several witnesses who were examined at the trial of the case.
The circumstances conclusively prove that the accused, deliberately and after due reflection had
resolved to kill the woman who had left him for another man, and in order to accomplish his perverse
intention with safety, notwithstanding the fact that he was already provided with a clean and well-
prepared weapon and carried other loaded cartridges besides those already in his revolver, he entered the
house, greeting everyone courteously and conversed with his victim, in what appeared to be a proper
manner, disguising his intention and claiming her by his apparent repose and tranquility, doubtless in
order to successfully accomplish his criminal design, behaving himself properly as he had planed to do
beforehand.

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