Practice question
Reliable evidence proves a deliberate unlawful killing and the accused’s identity beyond reasonable doubt. The particular offense does not require a separately specified motive. The prosecution cannot explain the personal reason. What follows?
- The missing personal reason necessarily requires acquittal
- The accused is guilty solely because motive is unnecessary
- Absence of a proved personal motive does not by itself defeat otherwise sufficient proof of that offense
- Every possible motive must be disproved
- The court must invent a motive
Legal references
- https://lawphil.net/statutes/acts/act1930/act_3815_1930.html — RPC Article 3: deliberate intent and fault.
- https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1998/jan1998/gr_120921_1998.html — People v. Ballesteros, G.R. 120921, January 29, 1998, main decision: motive distinguished from intent and motive alone insufficient.
- https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2023/mar2023/gr_228232_2023.html — Pineda v. People, G.R. 228232, March 27, 2023, main decision: intent, motive and culpable negligence.
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