THE defense and prosecution panel on Thursday squabbled over the authenticity of the video footage presented during a trial on the murder of American George Anikow.

On Thursday’s hearing at the Branch 59 of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, the prosecution panel presented Damasino Dosonan Jr., the detachment commander of the Rockwell Center in Makati where the incident happened.

In taking the witness stand, Dosonan authenticated the closed circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident that he turned over to the Makati police investigators the day after the killing occurred.

During his testimony, Dosonan said that he ordered Dominador Royo, the duty officer at the Rockwell Center Command Center, to burn the CCTV footage of the incident after it was requested by the Makati police.

But before Public Prosecutor Hannah Arriola could present the 10-minute video footage, lawyer Jacinto Ende, counsel for accused Crispin de la Paz questioned its authenticity arguing that it was just a reproduction of the original video from the main frame.

Another defense lawyer, Miguel Damaso, counsel for accused Juan Alfonso also said that although they have the same copy of the video footage, this does not warranty its authenticity.

Damaso asked the court that they may be allowed to compare the said CCTV footage, which showed how Anikow was mauled and killed, with the one that is in their possession.

“How would we know if the CCTV footage to be presented before the court is authentic if we don’t view the original copy?” Damaso manifested.

Lawyer Jay de Castro, counsel for accused Galicano Datu 3rd, concurred with the manifestation of Damaso.

“We have to see the original for the integrity of the presentation of evidence, this might have been tainted because of technology,” he added.

After a few minutes of legal tussle, Judge Winlove Dumayas of the regional court in Makati finally allowed the showing of the video clip on condition that both the defense and prosecution panels would compare it with the original copy.

To avert further objections from the defense panel, Arriola agreed to present the original CCTV footage as she asked the judge to order the Rockwell management to produce it.

She explained that the CCTV footage is vital in building up the case as this would be the basis of the testimony of the prosecution’s next witness, security guard Romel Saavedra.