Tuesday, March 19, 2002
The defendant ordered the victim to leave their home after learning he tried to date another woman, a witness said.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR SHARON BUREAU
MERCER, Pa. -- Judy Knauff said she tried to wrest the rifle away from Kathleen A. Robinson moments before Robinson shot Robert A. Erickson, but was unsuccessful.
Knauff, of Hadley, was the sole witness to testify at a preliminary hearing Monday for Robinson, 31, of Pearson Road, Hadley, who is charged with one count of criminal homicide in the shooting.
Erickson, 42, the boyfriend who lived with Robinson, died of a single gunshot wound to the abdomen. Authorities said Robinson shot him in their home around 2 a.m. March 10 after an argument.
Atty. James Epstein, Mercer County district attorney, said Knauff testified that she, Robinson, Erickson and others were at a bar earlier in the evening when Robinson learned that Erickson had apparently asked another woman out on a date.
Knauff said Robinson and Erickson argued about it at the bar and Robinson told Erickson she wanted him to move out of the house, Epstein said.
Knauff said Erickson left the bar but she and Robinson stayed out with a third person, visiting another bar, according to Epstein.
Recalling threat: Knauff recalled that, on the way home, Robinson threatened to shoot Erickson, Epstein said.
Authorities said that when Robinson and Knauff arrived at the residence, they found Erickson lying on the couch.
She demanded that he leave, threatening to shoot him, police said.
When he still refused to leave, police said Robinson got a rifle from a closet, loaded it and again warned him to leave or be shot.
Knauff testified that she grabbed the rifle and tried to take it from Robinson but that Robinson pushed her aside and then fired, Epstein said, adding that Knauff said Robinson then became hysterical.
Erickson died about four hours later while undergoing surgery at UPMC Horizon in Greenville.
District Justice Ruth French ruled the prosecution had sufficient evidence to send the case to common pleas court and ordered Robinson to be returned to Mercer County Jail where she is being held without bond.