Friends wear purple for deceased in court
Estranged husband of 54-year-old woman faces lengthy murder trial
Friends of a woman whose estranged husband is accused of killing her in 2014 wore purple scarves to honour her as a jury listened to an opening statement during the man’s trial Wednesday.
Purple signifies not only victim Aileen Robinson’s favourite colour, but is also meant as a symbol to raise awareness of domestic violence, said Lori McConnell, one of several women who attended court Wednesday, along with a number of Aileen Robinson’s family members, who filled benches in the court’s gallery.
The 54-year-old’s estranged husband, Gilbert Paul Robinson, 62, is charged with second-degree murder in relation to her death. He sat in the prisoner’s box as jurors heard instructions from Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Adam Germain.
The victim — known to her friends as Gina — went to Gilbert Robinson’s house on April 21, 2014, Crown prosecutor Domina Hussain told a 12-person jury during an opening statement.
The couple was in the midst of a divorce after first separating in 2012, Hussain said.
The jury will hear evidence about what happened when two people went to the home to check on Aileen Robinson, Hussain said.
It will also hear evidence from first responders and police who were called to the residence and found the woman suffering from injuries, she said.
The woman died in hospital two days later, and the jury will hear from a medical examiner about the cause of her death. The jury will also hear what police investigators learned from searching the house and surrounding property, Hussain said.
Hussain said she plans to call 60 to 65 witnesses during the lengthy trial.
The jury was dismissed for the day after Hussain’s statement.
“I think it’s important to show that we’re here when she can’t be,” McConnell said, standing outside the courthouse with nine friends, all wearing the same type of purple scarf.
“Gina was a vibrant, exciting, very dynamic woman,” McConnell said of her friend of more than 20 years.
“Always very upbeat. Always very happy. Definitely the life of the gathering.”
McConnell said her friend has two adult children, a son who lives in the Edmonton area and a daughter who lives in England and is travelling to Edmonton for the trial.