BACOLOD CITY,  Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles® ) – A Filipino man accused of killing his live-in partner and baby was acquitted today of murder charges, thanks to a news headline.

The 21-year-old man was accused of stabbing his live-in partner and nine-month-old baby last month in Silay City, Negros Occidental. He was believed to be high on drugs when he allegedly commited the murder.

The man didn’t have any lawyer. Rather, he defended himself in court before the judge.

In his defense, the man presented “Exhibit A” consisting of a hard copy of  a news headline that appeared on the news site, Inquirer.net.

The headline read, “Man, ‘high on drugs,’ stabs dead partner, baby in Negros Occidental.”

In arguing for himself, the accused told the judge, “How can I be charged with murder when the people I stabbed were already dead?”

Neither the judge nor the prosecution attorney could challenge his defense argument.

The judge then immediately issued an acquittal order and the man was released from custody.

He could still face new charges of attempted murder.