Taiwanese Che Yu Tsai, also known as Jayson Santos Lee, 25, who allegedly killed his gay live-in partner, Robert William Relly, alias “Ashley Ann,” 23, in their condominium in Pasay City last week has been charged with murder and underwent inquest proceedings before the Prosecutor’s Office at the Pasay City Hall yesterday.
An emotional Clemencita del Rosario, 53, met and vented her ire on the suspect who allegedly killed the victim due to money.
Del Rosario defended Relly and said that he was a natural charmer, independent, and a family-oriented person.
“Hindi ganoon ang anak ko na manghihingi ng pera. At kahit pa pera ang pag-awayan niyo, hindi mo dapat pinatay ang anak ko.”
“Mapagmahal siya sa pamilya. Minsan kahit hindi niya kakilala basta alam niyang nangangailangan ng tulong, tumutulong (siya). Ganoon siyang tao,” Del Rosario said.
“Kagabi (June 5), nang dalhin ‘yung bangkay niya para iburol sa Pampanga, dagsa ang nakikidalamhati. Napakasakit para sa akin, hindi ko makaya,” a teary-eyed Del Rosario said.
Lee asked for forgiveness before Del Rosario and said he didn’t want any of this to happen. “I am very, very sorry.
I don’t know what to say. I’m just really sorry,” said Lee and bowed his head.
Del Rosario said that she wouldn’t accept Lee’s apologies because it will never bring back the life of her son.
“Hindi ko matatanggap iyan. Kung ano ang dapat nangyari sa kanya, pagbayaran niya,” she said.
Lee was assisted by a lawyer from the Public Attorney’s Office who requested anonymity since his original lawyer, Nestor Ifurung, was unable to attend the proceedings.
Del Rosario was accompanied by her sister and Relly’s aunt, Juliet Santos, 47.
Santos narrated how she last saw her nephew last May 22. Santos said that she visited Relly and Jason in their condo unit to bring an ultrasound result for her nephew’s breast operation.
“Doon ko unang nakita ang boyfriend niya (Lee). Humihingi siya (Ashley) ng pambayad sa bahay, downpayment ata sa bagong bahay, dahil lilipat na nga sila. Forty-one days na silang tumutuloy doon sa condo unit na ‘yon eh. Kaso nauwi sa away,” said Santos.
“Dapat pupunta rin siya ng Hong Kong dahil may business siya eh kaso hindi siya pinayagan. Natatakot dahil baka raw hindi na siya balikan. Ang sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Alam mo mag-ingat ka dyan’,” said Santos.
Santos said that Relly, aside from being a model, was going out of the country since he was selling beauty products abroad.
Lead investigator SPO4 Allan Valdez, who was also present during the proceedings, narrated how the incident happened based on the investigation of the Pasay police.
Valdez said that Lee admitted stabbing the neck of Relly while they were wrestling for the possession of a kitchen knife after an argument.
Valdez said Relly must have been stabbed while they were standing since there were blood splatters on the wall and curtains of the unit.
“Ang sabi ni Lee, sa sahig daw niya sinaksak pero may mga sirit ng dugo sa kurtina at sa dingding. So lumalabas na nakatayo o nakasandal sila sa pader,” said Valdez.
“Pagkatapos, may mga tulo tulo ng dugo sa sahig. So siguro gumapang ‘yung biktima, tapos baka dito na siya pinagsusuntok sa ulo dahil may mga pasa din siya sa mukha, eh. Hanggang sa nakarating siya sa terrace, at doon na siya nalagutan ng hininga. Doon ang pinakamaraming dugo na aming nakita,” added Valdez.
Valdez also disclosed that Relly died of traumatic head injuries and an incised stab wound in the neck based on the results of his autopsy.
The murder weapon was not recovered after Lee said he threw it away. The body of the victim was discovered on Coastal Area, Cavite Expressway, Bacoor City, Cavite at around 9:30 a.m. Saturday stuffed inside a luggage.
Police said that Lee was a Taiwanese, contrary to previous reports that he was a Chinese. Valdez said that Lee’s passport was issued in China but upon contacting a Taiwanese consul, they learned that he was a Taiwanese.
(Martin A. Sadongdong)