6 witnesses tag farmer in girl’s slay

Attempted rape and homicide charges will be filed today against the 34-year-old farmer tagged as a suspect in the killing of a 13-year-old girl in barangay Tigbawan, Tabuelan town, Cebu.

Police said they have six witnesses who will prove that Elmer Montecalvo was involved in the killing of 13-year-old Jelina Lahoy-Lahoy.

Insp. Roberto Hugo, chief of the Tabuelan police, said Montecal is a distant relative of the girl who called him “tiyo” or uncle.

Hugo said the witnesses told them they saw Montecalvo  wearing an inverted short pants filled with mud during the search of Jelina’s body last Friday night.

Police said a slipper owned by the farmer was found in the crime scene.

Montecalvo admitted he owned the gray slipper but did not explain why it was found near the dried up well where the girl’s body was found.

According to witnesses, Montecalvo became uneasy when he saw Jelina’s body being retrieved from the dried well.

Hugo said Jelina’s family and neighbors were also convinced that Montecalvo was the killer.

Hugo said it was possible that the girl was killed after she fought back her assailant.

Montecalvo did not resist arrest when he was arrested in his home last Saturday noon. The suspect denied involvement in the killing.

Autopsy results showed that Jelina died due to asphyxia or strangulation.         There were no indications that the girl was raped based on the examination.

Jelina, a second year high school student of San Miguel National High School, failed to return home from school last Thursday that prompted her relatives and neighbors to look for her.

The girl was found dumped in the well the next morning with her face covered with mud./REPORTER RHEA RUTH V. ROSELL