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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 12/3/08 Section: News
Ex-prof appeals manslaughter sentence
Naomi Jagoda
Lawyers for former Economics professor Rafael Robb filed an appeal of his 5 to 10 year sentence for killing his wife, Ellen, two years ago.
Frank DeSimone, Robb's attorney, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he filed a motion for reconsideration because he felt Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Paul Tressler did not understand the motive of a letter Robb sent to his 14-year old daughter, Olivia.
In the letter, which Olivia received the day before Robb's Nov. 19 sentencing, Robb told Olivia she would not receive holiday presents if she did not send him a picture of herself and her report card.
Tressler said at the sentencing that the letter caused him to give Robb a sentence in the standard range for voluntary manslaughter, rather than have him receive a lighter sentence.
Robb pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in November 2007.
Tressler said he does not want Robb to control his daughter's life, something the letter showed he was trying to do.
Bruce Castor, one of the prosecutors in the case, called the appeal "hogwash" and "despicable" because Ellen Robb's family and friends are still reeling from her death and think he should have received a harsher sentence.
Castor added that a judge does not have to grant a hearing for the appeal, particularly because the sentence was not out of line with other sentences in the state.
In November 2007, Robb admitted to bludgeoning his wife to death with a chin-up bar in December 2006 after they got into a fight over Olivia's vacation plans.
Frank DeSimone, Robb's attorney, told The Philadelphia Inquirer he filed a motion for reconsideration because he felt Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge Paul Tressler did not understand the motive of a letter Robb sent to his 14-year old daughter, Olivia.
In the letter, which Olivia received the day before Robb's Nov. 19 sentencing, Robb told Olivia she would not receive holiday presents if she did not send him a picture of herself and her report card.
Tressler said at the sentencing that the letter caused him to give Robb a sentence in the standard range for voluntary manslaughter, rather than have him receive a lighter sentence.
Robb pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in November 2007.
Tressler said he does not want Robb to control his daughter's life, something the letter showed he was trying to do.
Bruce Castor, one of the prosecutors in the case, called the appeal "hogwash" and "despicable" because Ellen Robb's family and friends are still reeling from her death and think he should have received a harsher sentence.
Castor added that a judge does not have to grant a hearing for the appeal, particularly because the sentence was not out of line with other sentences in the state.
In November 2007, Robb admitted to bludgeoning his wife to death with a chin-up bar in December 2006 after they got into a fight over Olivia's vacation plans.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Alum
posted 12/03/08 @ 10:26 AM EST
This whole scenario is absurd. I cannot believe that this guy pulled this off. He gets an extremely short sentence for what was essentially premeditated murder and then has the audacity to appeal the sentence. (Continued…)
David
posted 12/03/08 @ 11:45 AM EST
Why not just take him out and shoot him without a trial? Who cares if he wasn't convicted of "premeditated murder" but rather "voluntary manslaughter". (Continued…)
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