Justice for stray bullet victim remains elusive

MANILA – Justice remains elusive for the victim of a stray bullet in Caloocan City last year. Aquilino Ella, grandfather of 7-year-old stray bullet fatality Stephanie Nicole Ella, said no one has been punished yet for the death of his granddaughter during the New Year's Eve celebration last year. [STEPAHNIE NICOLE ELLA - http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nation/metro-manila/01/02/13/stray-bullet-kills-7-year-old-girl] Stephanie Nicole's family was watching fireworks displays outside their house on New Year's Eve when she was hit by a stray bullet on the head. She died on January 2 after suffering 8 cardiac arrests. Aquilino said several people were invited for questioning regarding the case of his granddaughter, but there was not enough evidence to pin them down. "Na-dismiss daw ang kaso dahil di matibay ang ebidensya sa mga suspek na hinuli. Sa NBI (National Bureau of Investigation( naman, eh parang suntok sa buwan din daw dahil hindi makita ang baril," Aquilino told dzMM. The police earlier vowed to hunt down Stephanie Nicole's shooting, even saying that the gun that discharged the stray bullet was fired within 50 meters from the victim's house. [50 METERS - http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/01/04/13/cops-scour-gun-owners-near-nicoles-home] Nonetheless, Aquilino said he is thankful for the outpouring of support for his family. He said because of the assistance coming from concerned entities, they were able to lay the child's body to rest at a decent place. Aquilino said due to the trauma caused by last year's tragedy, Stephanie's family will not be spending the New Year's Eve in their Caloocan house.