A SUPERIOR Court jury yesterday found Francisco M. Tydingco guilty of hacking a man with a machete on the head.
After deliberating for less than a day, the jurors reached a verdict finding Tydingco guilty of attempted second degree murder, aggravated assault and battery, and assault with a dangerous weapon.
The defendant, however, was acquitted of the charge of attempted first degree murder.
Associate Judge David Wiseman found that the prosecution met its burden to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Tydingco committed assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
Wiseman ordered the Probation Office to prepare a pre-sentence report. He set the sentencing for Aug. 15.
Sajjad Rahman had testified in court how Tydingco suddenly struck him with a machete on the left side of his head at Pakpak Beach in San Antonio on July 1, 2001.
Rahman said he did not see that Tydingco was armed with a machete when he walked toward him. He said the incident happened past 2 a.m. Prior to the incident, Rahman said he met the defendant during a party at a friend’s house in Koblerville.
The victim said that while he and a friend were sitting on a pick-up truck, Tydingco approached them. He said the defendant challenged his friend to engage in arm wrestling.
Rahman said he knew Tydingo was looking for trouble so he told his friend that they better leave.
Rahman said that while he was driving along Beach Road, he noticed a car closely following him.
Rahman said Tydingco got out from the car and asked him to follow him to the beach where the defendant suddenly struck him with a machete.
The defendant, represented by Assistant Public Defender Douglas Hartig, claimed he hit Rahman in “self-defense.”
A government witness testified that he saw the defendant at a Christening party in Koblerville on the evening of June 30, 2001.
The witness said Tydingco appeared without invitation and threatened to “beat up one of the Pakistanis.”
Assistant Attorneys General Janine Udui and Daniel Cohan prosecuted the case.
