Court allows more witnesses vs Bella Ruby

After the court found that evidence against the suspect in the kidnap-slay of Ellah Joy Pique is weak, the prosecution has asked that they be allowed to present additional witnesses.

Lawyer Inocencio dela Cerna, private prosecutor in the kidnap-slay of the 6-year-old girl said they will try to convince the court that suspect Bella Ruby Santos  was involved in child pornography which they would link as the motive for abducting and killing the victim two years ago.

The defense tried to oppose the admission of more witnesses saying it will further delay the trial and it violates an earlier agreement on the number of witnesses the prosecution will present.

But Judge Ester Veloso granted the prosecution’s plea to present more witnesses, saying that hearing more witnesses “in the interest of justice.”

Santos and herBritish partner Ian Charles Griffiths are accused in the kidnap-slay of the girl. Griffiths left the country before the court issued an arrest warrant against him.

The prosecution has already presented 10 witnesses. They presented yesterday  Senior Insp. Leonedes Casul, head of the Scene of the Crime Operations (Soco) team which recovered by  body of Ellah Joy in a cliff in Barili town.

Supposedly, Casul was the prosecution’s last witness until they  requested Regional Trial Court Judge Ester Veloso to allow them to present five more witnesses.

Santos as well as Ellah Joy’s parents were present during the hearing yesterday morning.

In an interview, Santos said she’s enjoying temporary liberty pending resolution of the charges of kidnapping with homicide filed against him.

The court allowed her temporary liberty after she posted P500,000 bail. /Ador Vincent S. Mayol, Reporter