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Requisites of Valid Confessions

  • Express and Categorical: Confession must be clear and unambiguous.

  • Intelligent: The individual must understand the confession.

  • Voluntarily Given: It must not be forced or coerced.

  • Constitutional Compliance: There must be no violation of Article III, Section 12 of the Constitution.

Corpus Delicti

  • Definition: Refers to the body of the crime or the fact that a crime has been committed.

    • Can also refer to the actual commission of the crime charged.

Extrajudicial Confession

  • Defined: A confession made outside of court.

  • Admissibility: Cannot sustain a conviction unless corroborated by evidence of corpus delicti.

Confession

  • Definition: A declaration by an accused admitting guilt for the offense charged.

  • Nature: May be presented as evidence in trial.

Admission by Silence

  • Rule: An act or declaration made in the presence of a party who remains silent can be evidence against that party if it prompts a response.

Admissions by Privies

  • Rule: The act, declaration, or omission of one who holds title to property can be used as evidence against another who derives property from them.

Admission by Co-Conspirator

  • Rule: The declarations or acts of one conspirator may be used against other co-conspirators after establishing the conspiracy through evidence outside of those declarations.

Admissions by Partner or Agent

  • Rule: Declarations made by a partner or agent within the scope of authority during the partnership or agency may be used against the parties involved.

Exceptions to the Res Inter Alios Acta Rule

  1. Admissions by Co-Partner/Agent

  2. Admissions by Co-Conspirators

  3. Admissions by Privies

  4. Admissions by Silence

Res Inter Alios Acta Rule

  • Meaning: Acts done between strangers should not injure those who are not parties to them.

Effect of Admissions by a 3rd Party

  • The rights of a party cannot be affected by the act of another unless provided otherwise.

Payment of Expenses

  • Offers to pay or actual payment of medical or hospital expenses are not admissible as proof of liability.

Effects of Guilty Pleas

  • A withdrawn plea of guilty or an unaccepted plea of guilty is not admissible as evidence against the accused.

Offer to Marry in Rape Cases

  • An offer to marry a rape victim is considered an admission of guilt.

Effects of Compromise in Criminal Cases

  • In criminal cases, an offer of compromise may imply admission of guilt unless involving quasi-offenses or as allowed by law.

Effects of Compromise in Civil Cases

  • Offers of compromise in civil cases are not admissible as admissions of liability.

Admissions Defined

  • Admissions: Statements acknowledging a fact that may be against the interest of the party making it.

    • Includes various types: By a party, Co-partner, Co-conspirator, Privies, Silence.

Types of Confessions

  1. Judicial Confession: Made in court.

  2. Extrajudicial Confession: Made outside of court, requires corroboration for conviction.

Admissions of a Party

  • The declaration or omission of a party may be presented as evidence against them.

Qualifications of a Witness

  • All individuals who can perceive and convey their perception can serve as witnesses.

Exceptions to the Parol Evidence Rule

  • Evidence may be presented to clarify terms in a written agreement if it involves ambiguity, mistakes, or fails to express agreement intents.

Parol Evidence Rule Defined

  • When an agreement is in writing, it is seen as containing all agreed terms; no other evidence is admissible.

Document Defined

  • Any instrument or paper that proves or evidences something.

Best Evidence Rule Defined

  • Original documents must be presented, except under certain conditions (lost/destroyed, not available through custodianship, etc.).

Discretionary Judicial Notice

  • A court may recognize matters of public knowledge or those known to judges due to their function.

Mandatory Judicial Notice

  • Courts must recognize the existence of states, political histories, national symbols, etc., without the introduction of evidence.

Judicial Notice Defined

  • The acknowledgment of certain facts judges may act on without proof due to prior knowledge.

Admissibility of Evidence

  • Evidence is admissible if relevant to the issue and not excluded by law or rules.

Factum Probandum vs. Factum Probans

  • Factum Probandum: The ultimate fact to be proved.

  • Factum Probans: The evidentiary fact used to establish factum probandum.