Demurrer to evidence

Category: Criminal Procedure

Sec.  23.  Demurrer  to  evidence.  –  After  the  prosecution  rests  its case,   the   court   may   dismiss   the   action   on   the   ground   of insufficiency  of  evidence  (1)  on  its  own  initiative  after  giving  the prosecution  the  opportunity  to  be  heard  or  (2)  upon  demurrer  to evidence filed by the accused with or without leave of court.
 
If  the  court  denies  the  demurrer  to  evidence  filed  with  leave  of court, the accused may adduce evidence in his defense. When the demurrer  to  evidence  is  filed  without  leave  of  court,  the  accused waives  the  right  to  present  evidence  and  submits  the  case  for judgment on the basis of the evidence for the prosecution.
 
The  motion  for  leave  of  court  to  file  demurrer  to  evidence  shall specifically  state  its  grounds  and  shall  be  filed  within  a  non-extendible  period  of  five  (5)  days  after  the  prosecution  rests  its

case.  The  prosecution  may  oppose  the  motion  within  a  non-extendible period of five (5) days from its receipt.
 
If leave of court is granted, the accused shall file the demurrer to evidence  within  a  non-extendible  period  of  ten  (10)  days  from notice.  The  prosecution  may  oppose  the  demurrer  to  evidence within a similar period from its receipt.
 
The order denying the motion for leave of court to file demurrer to evidence or the demurrer itself shall not be reviewable by appeal or by certiorari before judgment.
 

AFTER   THE   PROSECUTION   RESTS   ITS   CASE,   WHAT   ARE   THE OPTIONS OF THE ACCUSED?

THE ACCUSED MAY DO THE FOLLOWING:

1.    File a demurrer to evidence with leave or without leave of court
2.    Adduce his evidence unless he waives the same
 

WHAT IS A DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE?

     It is a  motion to dismiss the  case filed by the defense after the prosecution rests on the ground of insufficiency of the evidence of the prosecution

     It has been said that a motion to dismiss under the Rules of Court takes place of a demurrer, which pleading raised questions of law as to sufficiency of the pleading apparent on the face thereof

     In the same manner as a demurrer, a motion to dismiss presents squarely before the court a question as to the sufficiency  of the facts alleged therein to constitute a cause of action
 

WHAT  ARE  THE  WAYS  BY  WHICH  A  CASE  MAY  BE  DISMISSED  ON THE    BASIS    OF    INSUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE OF THE PROSECUTION?

1.    The court may dismiss the case on its own initiative after giving the prosecution the right to be heard
2.    Upon demurrer  to evidence filed by the accused with or without leave of court
 

THE  PROSECUTION  RESTS  ITS  CASE.    THE  COURT  THINKS  THAT THERE IS INSUFFICIENCY OF EVIDENCE PRESENTED.  WHAT DOES IT NEED TO DO IN CASE IT WISHES TO DISMISS THE CASE?

     The court  may dismiss the  case on its own initiative after giving the prosecution the right to be heard
 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN WHEN THE PROSECUTION WOULD BE GIVEN THE  RIGHT  TO  BE  HEARD  BEFORE  THE  COURT  DISMISSES  THE CASE?

     The   prosecution   is   given   the   chance   to   explain   itself   of circumstances that may have lead to its failure to adduce enough evidence to support its case
 

HOW DO YOU FILE A DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE?

     Within 5 days after the prosecution rests, the accused should file a motion for leave of court to file a demurrer to evidence, stating in such motion his grounds for such

     The  prosecution  shall  have  5  days  within  which  to  oppose  the motion

     If  the  motion  is  granted,  the  accused  shall  file  the  demurrer  to evidence within 10 days from notice of grant of leave of court

     The prosecution may oppose the demurrer to evidence within 10 days from its receipt of the demurrer
 

WHAT  IS  THE  EFFECT  OF  FILING  THE  DEMURRER  TO  EVIDENCE WITH LEAVE OF COURT?

     The effect of its filing is that if the court grants the demurrer, the case will be dismissed

     If  the  court  denies  the  demurrer  to  evidence  filed  with  leave  of court, the accused may still adduce evidence on his behalf
 

WHAT IS THE  EFFECT OF  FILING  THE  DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE WITHOUT LEAVE OF COURT?

     If  the  court  denies  the  demurrer  to  evidence  which  was  filed without leave of court, the accused is deemed to have waived his right  to  present  evidence  and  submits  the  case  for  judgment  on basis of the evidence of the prosecution

     This is because demurrer to evidence is not a matter of right but is discretionary on the court

     Permission  of  the  court  has  to  be  obtained  before  it  is  filed, otherwise the accused loses certain rights
 

THE  ACCUSED  FILED  A  DEMURRER  OF  EVIDENCE  WITHOUT  LEAVE OF  COURT.  THE  DEMURRER  OF  EVIDENCE  IS  DENIED.    IS  THERE ABSOLUTE  WAIVER  OF  PRESENTATION  OF  EVIDENCE  BY  THE COURT?

     No

     The  general  rule  is  that  filing  of  a  demurrer  of  evidence  without leave  of  court,  which  is  subsequently  denied,  is  a  waiver  of presentation of evidence 

     Nonetheless,  if  the  demurrer  of  evidence  is  filed  before  the prosecution  rests  its  case,  there  would  be  no  waiver  to  present evidence.    As  the  prosecution  hasn’t  finished  presenting  its
evidence, there is still insufficiency of evidence.  

WHAT IS THE EFFECT IF  THE  DEMURRER IS GRANTED  AND  THE ACCUSED IS ACQUITTED?

     The accused has the right to adduce evidence on the civil aspect of the case unless the court declares that the act or omission from which the civil liability may arise did not exist.

     If  the  trial  court  issues  an  order  or  renders  judgment  not  only granting the demurrer  to evidence of the accused and acquitting him  but  also  on  the  civil  liability  of  the  accused  to  the  private offended party, said judgment on its civil case would be a nullity for violation of the rights of the accused to due process.
 

WHAT  IS  THE  REMEDY  OF  THE  ACCUSED  IF  THE  DEMURRER  TO EVIDENCE IS DENIED?

     As  a  general  rule,  there  can  be  no  appeal  or  certiorari  on  the denial  of  the  demurrer  to  evidence,  since  it  is  an  interlocutory order which doesn’t pass judgment on the merits of the case

     In such instance, the accused has the right to adduce evidence on his  behalf  not  only  on  the  criminal  aspect  but  also  on  the  civil aspect of the case