Bella stakes innocence
Armed with documents and notes, the lawyers of Bella Ruby Santos submitted her counteraffidavit to the kidnap with homicide case filed against her and her British partner, Ian Charles Griffiths.
“I vehemently deny all the allegations appearing in the complaint. I and my partner Ian Charles Griffiths has nothing to do with the kidnapping and killing of Ellah Joy Pique,” she said in her counteraffidavit before the Cebu Provincial Prosecutor’s Office yesterday.
Griffiths is also expected to file his counteraffidavit to refute the allegations against him and Santos.
Santos had five witnesses to testify that she and her longtime partner Griffiths were home on the day Ellah Joy was kidnapped by a Caucasian male and a Filipina riding a blue Pajero outside the Calajo-an Elelmentary School in Minglanilla town last Feb. 8.
Santos’ lawyers attached in her counteraffidavit the transcript of stenographic notes on the proceedings before Regional Trial Court Judge Meinrado Paredes of Branch 13.
Judge Paredes postponed yesterday the viewing of the USB and video camera taken from Santos to May 20. The judge said he has yet to avail the services of an IT expert.
