^^^ Strictly speaking, the family of the dead perp can act as the private complainant. They don't have to act as witnesses, since wala naman sila sa crime scene when it happened. It's a criminal case after all, and the state is the plaintiff. But as private complainants, they must sign the Information Sheet (IS).

News reports are not null. If an authorized executive of the newspaper can testify in court that the report did appear in the newspaper, then it can be taken cognizance of in court. Also, the reporter can be summoned as a witness to affirm his story.

Personally, kung totoong carjacker nga yung namatay, goodbye and good riddance! Mas maganda sana kung pati yung isang kasama, napatay din. And although I own a firearm myself, I wouldn't risk a shooutout kung kasama ko pamilya ko for a mere Ford Explorer. (Chances are, insured naman yun). Kotse lang yan, di puwedeng pamalit sa buhay ko or that of my loved ones.