SUPERIOR Court Associate Judge Virginia Sablan-Onerheim on Friday sentenced to 60 years imprisonment a man convicted for the killing of a six-month-old baby.
Sablan-Onerheim also ordered Reynaldo A. Manila to pay restitution to the baby’s parents for second degree murder.
For child abuse, Sablan-Onerheim sentenced Manila to the maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.
The judge said the sentence should run concurrently, which means that the defendant will spend a total of 60 years in jail.
Sablan-Onerheim said the sentence should send a clear message to the community that similar crimes require severe punishment.
Shortly before she handed the sentence, the judge said she has had the opportunity to reflect on the evidence and also review the presentation of the lawyers.
The judge said she took pain in considering the pre-sentence report filed by the Probation Office and also considered its supplemental report.
Sablan-Onerheim said she reviewed similar cases cited by the Probation Office and considered the general circumstances of those cases.
Sablan-Onerheim, however, said she agreed with Chief Prosecutor Clyde Lemons—there is no other more heinous crime than killing an infant.
Before the sentence was given, the judge allowed the 39-year-old Manila to speak in court. Manila insisted he did not kill the baby, Nina Ricci, and that he felt sorry for the child and her parents.
The defendant said the parents—Jonathan and Lorisa Dizon—know how much he cared for Nina Ricci. He said he did not complain even when the parents would bring to him the baby late at night whenever “they go drinking or to the disco.”
“They did not hear anything from me. I took care of the baby because she was my goddaughter,” he said.
The Probation Office recommended 40 years imprisonment.
The probation officer said based on his interview with Manila at the Division of Corrections, he found that the defendant felt sorry for the child and her parents, but he was not remorseful.
Defense attorney Danilo Aguilar recommended 20 to 25 years imprisonment.
Aguilar said the court needed to focus on Manila’s background. He said his client has been in the CNMI for 12 to 13 years without facing any criminal charges until the child’s death.
Aguilar said Manila was taking care of the child, and nobody was there when it happened other than the defendant.
Aguilar said no weapon was used although there were testimonies about blunt trauma and shaken baby syndrome.
Aguilar said Manila has a child in the Philippines.
He added that there are a lot of murder cases in the CNMI that are more heinous.
Aguilar said it was the discretion of the court to balance rehabilitation and punishment.
Lemons recommended that Manila be put in jail for the rest of his life.
The chief prosecutor said he was involved in the trial of some murder cases in the CNMI, but none of them was as heinous as Manila’s case.
With respect to the issue that no weapon was involved, Lemons said the doctor testified that the baby had 11 bruises at the back of her head consistent with blunt trauma or hitting with an object.
A doctor also testified that the baby was shaken “very hard,” consistent with shaken baby syndrome, Lemons said.
“(Nina Ricci) lingered on several days before she died. This was a deliberate violent act by defendant who is now a convicted baby killer. There is nothing more heinous than killing a child,” he said.
“She was a complete victim. She was the most helpless victim,” he added.
Nina Ricci died on Nov. 6, 2000 reportedly due to shaken-baby syndrome. Manila was her baby-sitter at the time.
A jury of six found the defendant guilty of second degree murder and child abuse.
Manila’s original counsel, Assistant Public Defender Jeffrey Moots, moved the court last February to withdraw him as counsel considering that his client claimed he did not receive a competent defense during the trial.
The court then appointed Aguilar as new counsel for the defendant.
