G.R. No. L-9103; August 25, 1914
THE UNITED STATES, plaintiff-appellee, vs. MARIANO LOPEZ, defendant-appellant.

FACTS:
Mariano Lopez was convicted in the lower court of the crime of robbery committed by an armed band. The prosecution’s evidence established that a band of armed robbers committed the robbery in question. The complaining witness positively identified Lopez as one of the robbers, recognizing both his face (as he passed through a ray of light from a lamp) and the sound of his voice. The complaining witness’s wife also identified Lopez by his voice. A boatman further testified that he transported Lopez and others from Lopez’s store to a location near the crime scene. After conviction, Lopez appealed, challenging the sufficiency of the evidence regarding his identity as a participant. He also filed a motion for a new trial in the Supreme Court based on affidavits alleging he did not leave his barrio on the night of the robbery.

ISSUE:
Was the evidence sufficient to establish the identity of Mariano Lopez as one of the perpetrators of the robbery, thereby sustaining his conviction?

RULING:
Yes. The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. The Court held that the evidence of record conclusively established Lopez’s guilt. The positive identification by the complaining witness, corroborated by his wife’s testimony and the boatman’s account, left no reasonable doubt as to Lopez’s identity as a member of the armed band. The Court found the affidavits submitted in support of the motion for a new trial to be vague, indefinite, and unsatisfactory, and insufficient to cast doubt on the strong and convincing testimony presented during trial. No error prejudicial to the substantial rights of the accused was found in the proceedings. The judgment of the lower court was affirmed.