Court Opinion

ID: 8525844
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 10:55:55.865461+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:51:38.817053
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice eel Toro-
delivered the opinion of the court.
In the present case Basilio Río Montano was charged by the fiscal with assault with intent to commit rape. The case went to trial on a plea of not gnilty, the jury found the defendant guilty of the crime charged and the court sentenced him to ten years in the penitentiary at hard labor, whereupon he took this appeal.
The evidence for the prosecution showed the commission of the crime of rape and the appellant complains that he was prejudiced thereby in that he could not properly prepare his defense.
We have examined the statement of the case and it does not appear therein that the defendant duly raised that ques*690tion in the district eonrt. Besides, there is nothing to show that he was deprived of any right. He was charged with having unlawfully, wilfully and maliciously assaulted a girl of thirteen years of age with the intent to rape her, having been prevented from realizing his intent by the interference of other persons. The evidence went even further. It showed that although the timely interference 'of other persons caused him to release his victim and flee, he had already violated her. The defendant was not convicted of rape. The jury simply returned a verdict finding him guilty of assault with intent to commit rape, as.charged.
In these circumstances we are of the opinion that the defendant cannot successfully plead that he was not given the opportunity to defend himself which the law allows. He jknew well from the first moment the nature of the offense with which he was charged and could have prepared his defense. He was charged with and convicted of a simple attempt to commit rape, instead of having been charged with and convicted of actual rape; and no prejudicial error was committed inasmuch as the doctrine is well established that a defendant cannot complain when the verdict is more favorable to him than it might have been under the evidence. See People v. Muhlner, 115 Cal. 303, 306, and cases cited; also, the decisions of this court in People v. Izquierdo, 5 P. R. R. 104, (2d ed.); People v. Figueroa, 16 P. R. R. 354, and People v. Solares, 19 P. R. R. 423.
Insisting on his theory, the appellant complains that although the judge charged the jury that it could not consider or pass upon the consummated crime of rape, he referred at length and in detail to all the evidence for the prosecution tending to show that said crime was committed. We do not consider, that the district judge committed any error. He referred to all the evidence and all of it was entitled to consideration for the purpose of ascertaining the intent of the defendant, which is an essential element of the crime *691which, was being submitted by the judge of the law to the judges of the facts.
Finally, the appellant analyzes in his brief the evidence examined and maintains that it is not sufficient to support a verdict of guilty. We shall not transcribe the testimony of the witnesses, but shall state only that a careful examination of the same creates only one impression in our mind — • that is, the guilt of the defendant.
The judgment appealed from should be

Affirmed.

Chief Justice Hernández and Justices Wolf, Aldrey and Hutchison concurred.