NBI arrests dance instructor for wife’s death
By Tina Santos
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:18:00 05/16/2008
MANILA, Philippines – The National Bureau of Investigation has arrested a dance instructor suspected of killing his wife two years ago.
Antipolo regional trial court Judge Ruth Cruz-Santos issued a warrant of arrest in August 2006 against Leonilo Valle, 34, a dance instructor of Fitness First and a resident of Crestview Village, Barangay San Roque, Antipolo City.
Valle has been linked to the death in May 2006 of his wife Roanne Aubrey Jobelle, according to Cecilio Zamora, chief of the NBI research and analysis division.
NBI agents arrested the suspect last week at Robinsons Place in Ermita, Manila after receiving a tip that he was working there as a dance instructor.
An investigation showed that before Roanne died, the couple had a heated argument.
A witness claimed that at one point during the fight, the suspect boarded his motorcycle and tried to speed off but he hit his wife, causing her to fall. She then hit her head on the concrete pavement, the witness said.
Initially, a frustrated parricide case was filed against the suspect, who was allowed to post bail.
But after Roanne died a week later, the court changed the charge to parricide, which is non-bailable.
The witness later recanted his initial statement, saying he was not properly briefed at the time authorities took his testimony.
In his later statement, he said it was the victim who boarded the motorcycle. She accidentally fell while making a turn and hit her head hard on the pavement, he told the NBI.
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