One of the persons accused of killing the son of Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura entered a plea of “not guilty” druing his arraignment yesterday.
Jethro Lapiña denied the murder charges filed against him before Regional Trial Court Judge Douglas Marigomen of Branch 5.
The accused was assisted by Leah Cruz of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO).
His co-accused Jaybhoy Lauron earlier entered a plea of “not guilty” during his arraignment last June 8.
The pre-trial conference is set on October 5.
Both men were accused in the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Carl Vinson Apura last May 13.
Carl Vinson was shot dead past midnight during an outdoor disco concert in barangay Poblacion, Carcar City.
Aside from Lauron and Lapiña, eight other persons were implicated in the crime but the case against the alleged cohorts were sent to the Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office for further investigation.
Four witnesses executed an affidavit against the accused.
In his affidavit, a habal-habal driver said he was observing a disco concert in sitio Upper Tubod, barangay Poblacion III in Carcar City at around 12:30 a.m. last May 13.
He said he saw Lapiña hug the victim while Lauron fired a gun the mayors son.
Lauron was arrested by police in Bohol last May 17.
Lauron admitted he was the gunman but said he didn’t know the man he shot.
He said he had a confrontation on the dance floor with the man.
Lauron, however, didn’t execute an extra-judicial confession to formalize his admission.
Police arrested Lapiña in Carcar City./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL