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PEOPLE vs Conrado De Leon, et al.

PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, appellee, vs. CONRADO DE LEON, ANDRING DE LEON, JOHN DOE (at large), accused. / CONRADO DE LEON, appellant.

G.R. No. 144052 | 2002-03-06

D E C I S I O N

PANGANIBAN, J.:

Minor inconsistencies between sworn statements and testimonies do not affect the credibility of witnesses. The assessment of these inconsistencies is best left to the discretion of the trial judge who had the unique opportunity to observe their demeanor and conduct while they were testifying.

The Case

Before this Court is an appeal from the June 5, 2000 Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Malabon (Branch 170) in Criminal Case No. 16265-MN, convicting Conrado de Leon of murder and sentencing him to reclusion perpetua.

The decretal portion of the RTC Decision reads as follows:

"WHEREFORE,...