VIENNA, Austria - A Filipino citizen in Vienna was sentenced on Tuesday to serve 18 years in prison by the Vienna Regional Trial Court for the murder of fellow Filipino Romalyn Basalo almost a year ago.
The jury found sufficient evidence that the suspect, only identified as Abelardo M., killed Basalo with 38 stab wounds in December 2009 at the residence of a Lebanese ambassador in 19th District, Währing, Vienna.
The Filipino did not only brutally stab his victim but also cut her throat and strangled it with the use of a plastic cord. The defendant accepted the verdict, and the prosecutor gave no explanation.
Denies intent to kill
Denies intent to kill
Although the defendant did not deny the deed, he denied his intent to kill the victim.
"No, I did not want to kill her," he sobbed. The interrogation of the accused was difficult as he allegedly suffered from memory lapses at key moments.
The defendant related that he met the victim in March 2009 at a Filipino festival in Vienna. The two then met regularly and soon began a relationship.
"She always told me that she loves me. I wanted to start a new life with her," said the defendant. However, the victim admitted that she is already married and that her husband works in Dubai.
On the day of the murder, the accused wanted to surprise the victim with an impromptu visit to the residence where she worked. However, the victim did not let him enter the premises and told him that he should come back later.
On the day of the murder, the accused wanted to surprise the victim with an impromptu visit to the residence where she worked. However, the victim did not let him enter the premises and told him that he should come back later.
The 39-year-old then went to a bar and drank 4 large beers. "I was a little intoxicated," said the accused.
Then, he returned to his girlfriend. "She began to scold me. She did not allow me to enter the residence," he said.
No recollection
What happened next could not be reconstructed in court because the defendant could no longer remember what happened during that night.
According to police investigators, the suspect said he saw another man leaving the apartment when Basalo arrived at around 11:30 one Monday night in December 2009.
Police said the suspect apparently knew the other man. Out of jealousy, there was an argument between the suspect and the victim, which then ended in bloodshed.
After the murder, the suspect allegedly left the apartment with the key of the victim.
Together with the murder weapon--a 5-inch-long kitchen knife--he threw these in a nearby park.
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