MANILA, Philippines — The Supreme Court acquitted a man previously convicted of killing a Dutch aid worker in 2012, citing inconsistent and unreliable testimonies from prosecution witnesses.

In a ruling, the Court’s Third Division reversed the conviction of Marvin Nuguid and ordered his immediate release, unless he is detained for another lawful cause.

The victim, Wilhelmus Johannes Joseph Geertman, then executive director of the non-government group Alay Bayan Inc., was gunned down inside his office in San Fernando, Pampanga, by two assailants who fled on a motorcycle. Nuguid was later convicted by a Pampanga court for his alleged role in the killing, a decision later affirmed by the Court of Appeals.

Nuguid denied involvement, insisting he was with his common-law wife at their junk shop when the shooting happened. He also challenged the credibility of the prosecution witnesses, whose testimonies the Supreme Court found to contain “several glaring inconsistencies.”

Associate Justice Japar Dimaampao, who penned the decision, said the contradictions went beyond minor lapses, undermining the witnesses’ ability to identify the shooter. “It is highly doubtful that the prosecution was able to pinpoint Nuguid as the assailant,” the Court ruled., This news data comes from:http://771bg.com

SC acquits suspect in 2012 killing of Dutch aid worker over doubtful testimonies

The justices also noted that the testimonies were the prosecution’s sole evidence and that no legitimate or compelling proof linked Nuguid to the crime. Given the weakness of the prosecution’s case, the Court said Nuguid’s denial and alibi carried greater weight.

Geertman’s death drew widespread condemnation in 2012, with human rights and civic groups calling for justice amid suspicions that the attack was related to his work with disaster preparedness programs in poor communities.