This case has been cited 1 times or more.
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2013-01-08 |
BERSAMIN, J. |
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| Carnal knowledge of a female simply means a male having bodily connections with a female. As such, the presence or absence of injury or laceration in the genitalia of the victim is not decisive of whether rape has been committed or not.[52] Such injury or laceration is material only if force or intimidation is an element of the rape charged; otherwise, it is merely circumstantial evidence of the commission of the rape. Verily, a medical examination and a medical certificate, albeit corroborative of the commission of rape, are not indispensable to a successful prosecution for rape.[53] The accused may then be convicted solely on the basis of the victim's credible, natural and convincing testimony.[54] This is no less true when the rape victim testifies against her own father; unquestionably, there would be reason to give her testimony greater weight than usual.[55] | |||||