Man who killed wife must wait 13 years to apply for parole
Aileen (Gina) Robinson’s friends and family went to a downtown pub Thursday to toast the deceased woman on what would have been her 58th birthday.
Then they returned to an Edmonton courtroom to see her estranged husband, Gilbert Paul Robinson, sentenced to life in prison with no chance to apply for parole for 13 years.
Earlier this year, the 62-year-old was convicted by a jury of seconddegree murder in Aileen Robinson’s 2014 death. The couple was going through an acrimonious divorce when she was found seriously injured in the home where he still lived. She died in hospital days later.
Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Adam Germain said he didn’t want to “tie the hands” of the parole board in dealing with an older offender. Robinson will be 75 when he is first eligible to apply.
The life sentence was automatic, but the Crown had argued for parole eligibility to be set at 21 years, while the defence sought a range of 11 to 12 years.
The couple’s daughter, Amanda Robinson, lives in the United Kingdom. Although she returned to Edmonton for the trial, she did not attend the sentencing. But in a victim impact statement filed with the court, the young woman described the sadness she feels daily, and how she often dreams about her mom.
“In the best ones, we’re having conversations, we’re travelling, we’re shopping, we’re laughing. In some of them, I’m frantically trying to warn her about her death,” she wrote.
She never mentions her father. But her younger brother, Paul Robinson, read a statement in court Thursday in support of his father.
“So many people appear to have given up on him, but I refuse to be one of them,” Paul Robinson told court in a tearful statement.
“Some days all I want is to give him a hug and tell him to keep fighting, that life is worth it, and no matter what, I’ll be there.”
The son sat in the gallery with some of his father’s siblings and other family members who were in court to offer support.
Gilbert Robinson used his one chance to address the court to say he loves his children, but also to air grievances.
“I sat here for three weeks listening to cheap shots,” he said of the trial, during which he did not testify.
The gallery was crowded Thursday with family, friends and neighbours
I sat here for three weeks listening to cheap shots. ... They’re shallow and selfish people.
from his life with Aileen Robinson, many of whom gave victim impact statements.
“They’re shallow and selfish people,” Gilbert Robinson said of them. “You can tell by their obesity they have no self-control.
“I guess I’m shunned from the group. Well, that’s their loss,” he said.
Speaking outside court, Aileen Robinson’s sister, Michelle Chimko, said the comments simply show the man’s true character. She said while she’s somewhat disappointed by the judge’s decision on parole eligibility, she’s still relieved by the conviction and the life sentence.
“It says something about domestic violence, and that it’s not acceptable. And so we need to focus on that as a family, friends and the community,” she said.