ANGELES CITY – Already facing multiple murder and theft before a court here, suspected serial killer Mark Dizon was charged with yet another double murder case, the local police said yesterday.
This, even as Dizon’s former girlfriend Filipino-American Czarina Mitchell, daughter of the suspect’s alleged last victims – retired US air force MSgt. Albert Mitchell and Janet Adraneda Mitchell – showed up at the Regional Trial Court Branch 58 here to testify against him.
The RTC, presided by Judge Philip Iturralde, finished yesterday its pre-trial and pave the way for the trial of the multiple murder case as well as theft against Dizon. This is in connection with the killing of the Mitchell couple, together with their househelps Isabel Fajardo, Marissa Prado, and Yulberto Catli in their home in Hensonville Court subdivision in Barangay Malabanias here last July 22. The cases were filed last July 28.
Chief Inspector Luisito Tan, chief of police Station 4 in this city, told Punto Central Luzon that last Friday, his investigators also filed double murder case against Dizon. This after enough evidences were gathered to pin him on the murders of British James Bolton Porter, 51, and his live-in partner, Melissa Madarang, 22, in their house at 4-11A Nicolas St. in Sta. Maria subdivision in Barangay Balibago here last July 16.
Dizon arrived on time for his trial at 8:30 a.m. at the RTC Branch 58 with 10 fully armed security men from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) from the Angeles detention center. We stayed handcuffed during the trial and complained to his lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) about red marks caused by bed bugs on his arms and legs.
Czarina, clad in black shirt and denims, arrived with two police security men at about 10:30 a.m. and set behind the bench occupied by Dizon. She looked reserved and angry but never looked at Dizon.
Pasamonte told the court that Czarina and Dizon reportedly had romantic relationship way back in 2002 and that, citing Czarina, their relationship ended in the same year. Although Dizon continued to visit the Mitchell’s house to repair computers.
Czarina was staying in the US at the time of the murder and went home for her parents’ wake and burial last Friday.
While Czarina was one of the 12 witnesses of the prosecution, she was not able to testify yesterday due to lack of time. Pasamonte, however, presented two witnesses, namely Olivia Vergara-Catli, wife of victim Yulberto Catli, and Joner Adraneda, brother of Janet Mitchell.
Mrs. Catli and Adreneda were asked by the court to point to the suspected killers of their relatives, and both pointed to Dizon.
Defense lawyer Leila Navarette Angulo, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office in this city, dismissed their testimonies as hearsay, noting they did not actually witness the crime.
While Pasamonte said he would present at least 12 witnesses, Angulo said she would present seven including Dizon’s parents Troadio and Ether, and brother Mario, one Dexter Supan as well as persons she identified only as Cris and Au.
Iturralde ordered a speedy but fair trial of Dizon as he cited the “seriousness and international impact” of the case.
Earlier, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan turned over the P100,000 reward to the local citizens’ anti crime group volunteer Rey Malig for his role in the arrest of Dizon in San Fernando, La Union last Tuesday. The mayor handed out the cash reward to Malig during the morning flag ceremony at city hall here.
The amount was reportedly raised by the local expatriate community, but Pamintuan did not cite any name.
During his arraignment last week on the case of the Mitchells, Dizon pleaded not guilty.
Pasamonte said in an interview that Dizon could no longer use insanity as part of his defense since he did not cite this during his arraignment. There had been reports that Dizon’s relatives claimed the suspect was mentally unstable and had been taking anti-depressants for years.
Meawhile, Tan also said Dizon’s murder cases are expected to pile as, as more evidences are being gathered to also tag him in the murder of f South African national Geoffrey Allan Bennun, 60, and his live-in partner, Abegail Helina, 20, whose decomposing bodies were found inside their house at Oasis Hotel and Villas in Clarkville Compound in Barangay Anunas here last July 12.
This, even as Dizon’s former girlfriend Filipino-American Czarina Mitchell, daughter of the suspect’s alleged last victims – retired US air force MSgt. Albert Mitchell and Janet Adraneda Mitchell – showed up at the Regional Trial Court Branch 58 here to testify against him.
The RTC, presided by Judge Philip Iturralde, finished yesterday its pre-trial and pave the way for the trial of the multiple murder case as well as theft against Dizon. This is in connection with the killing of the Mitchell couple, together with their househelps Isabel Fajardo, Marissa Prado, and Yulberto Catli in their home in Hensonville Court subdivision in Barangay Malabanias here last July 22. The cases were filed last July 28.
Chief Inspector Luisito Tan, chief of police Station 4 in this city, told Punto Central Luzon that last Friday, his investigators also filed double murder case against Dizon. This after enough evidences were gathered to pin him on the murders of British James Bolton Porter, 51, and his live-in partner, Melissa Madarang, 22, in their house at 4-11A Nicolas St. in Sta. Maria subdivision in Barangay Balibago here last July 16.
Dizon arrived on time for his trial at 8:30 a.m. at the RTC Branch 58 with 10 fully armed security men from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) from the Angeles detention center. We stayed handcuffed during the trial and complained to his lawyers from the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) about red marks caused by bed bugs on his arms and legs.
Czarina, clad in black shirt and denims, arrived with two police security men at about 10:30 a.m. and set behind the bench occupied by Dizon. She looked reserved and angry but never looked at Dizon.
Pasamonte told the court that Czarina and Dizon reportedly had romantic relationship way back in 2002 and that, citing Czarina, their relationship ended in the same year. Although Dizon continued to visit the Mitchell’s house to repair computers.
Czarina was staying in the US at the time of the murder and went home for her parents’ wake and burial last Friday.
While Czarina was one of the 12 witnesses of the prosecution, she was not able to testify yesterday due to lack of time. Pasamonte, however, presented two witnesses, namely Olivia Vergara-Catli, wife of victim Yulberto Catli, and Joner Adraneda, brother of Janet Mitchell.
Mrs. Catli and Adreneda were asked by the court to point to the suspected killers of their relatives, and both pointed to Dizon.
Defense lawyer Leila Navarette Angulo, chief of the Public Attorney’s Office in this city, dismissed their testimonies as hearsay, noting they did not actually witness the crime.
While Pasamonte said he would present at least 12 witnesses, Angulo said she would present seven including Dizon’s parents Troadio and Ether, and brother Mario, one Dexter Supan as well as persons she identified only as Cris and Au.
Iturralde ordered a speedy but fair trial of Dizon as he cited the “seriousness and international impact” of the case.
Earlier, Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan turned over the P100,000 reward to the local citizens’ anti crime group volunteer Rey Malig for his role in the arrest of Dizon in San Fernando, La Union last Tuesday. The mayor handed out the cash reward to Malig during the morning flag ceremony at city hall here.
The amount was reportedly raised by the local expatriate community, but Pamintuan did not cite any name.
During his arraignment last week on the case of the Mitchells, Dizon pleaded not guilty.
Pasamonte said in an interview that Dizon could no longer use insanity as part of his defense since he did not cite this during his arraignment. There had been reports that Dizon’s relatives claimed the suspect was mentally unstable and had been taking anti-depressants for years.
Meawhile, Tan also said Dizon’s murder cases are expected to pile as, as more evidences are being gathered to also tag him in the murder of f South African national Geoffrey Allan Bennun, 60, and his live-in partner, Abegail Helina, 20, whose decomposing bodies were found inside their house at Oasis Hotel and Villas in Clarkville Compound in Barangay Anunas here last July 12.
