Joseph Rucker Lamar

“ On the trial of a charge of 'murder with premeditation,' there might be call for proof of a specific intent, but even then that could usually be established only by external circumstances capable of proof. But in the case of murder with cruelty or with alevosia, the intent would be immaterial, although the ascused might claim that he thought that the cruelty would not cause death, or that the beating would punish, and not destroy, the person who was bound. ”

“ Under the Penal Code of the Philippines, as at common law, men are presumed to intend the natural consequences of their act, and cannot escape punishment for taking life on the claim that they had not intended or expected that such consequence would result from what they purposely did. ”

“ It is claimed that this finding was in legal effect an acquittal; and several decisions of the Supreme Court of Spain are cited to support the argument that there can be no 'murder with alevosia' unless there was a specific intent to kill the person bound. We cannot so construe the Philippine Code. Under it the killing of a human being is parricide, murder, or homicide, depending, not always on the intent, but upon the relation of the parties and the circumstances under which and the means by which life was taken. ”