Farmer, family convicted of murder

A Cebu City trial court yesterday convicted a farmer, his wife and son for killing 53-year-old Canadian Darcy Hanz Reutenberg in the mountain barangay of Adlawon, Cebu City, last June.

Rolando Aburot along with her wife Marilyn and their 17-year-old son were pronounced “guilty” of homicide charges during the court proceedings yesterday.

A plea bargaining agreement was entered into by the prosecution and the defense that prompted Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso of Branch 6 to come up with a verdict without conducting a trial on the merits of the case.

Rolando was meted an imprisonment from eight to 14 years while Marilyn will be jailed for six years.

Their son, a minor, will serve a suspended sentence, which would allow him to perform a period of probation.

Rolandio earlier admitted killing Reutenberg last June 26.

Aburot, who has known the victim  for over 10 years, had a drinking session with the victim when he   confronted Reutenberg about the victim’s  failure to seek the permission of his grandmother in building a rest house in her lot.

He said the Canadian allegedly got angry and pointed a firearm at him.  Aburot  said he grappled for the gun with Reutenberg and shot the  Canadian  in the head.

Aburot  said he took P50,000 from the wallet of Reutenberg before he buried the  Canadian  in a pit used for charcoal making near his house.

Afterward,  Aburot  cemented the grave, which he used as a pig pen.

To copver his tracks,  Aburot  bought seven piglets and placed them in the pen. He also bought two carabaos./correspondent patricia andrea pateña