MERCER, PA. Woman sentenced to prison for third-degree murder

The defendant will be eligible for parole in 15 years.
By MARY GRZEBIENIAK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MERCER, Pa. -- A Hadley woman was sentenced to 15 to 40 years in prison Wednesday after pleading guilty to third-degree murder in the death of the man she lived with.
Kathleen A. Robinson, 33, entered the plea before Judge Thomas Dobson of Mercer County Common Pleas Court. She had originally been charged with first- and third-degree murder for the March 10, 2002, shooting death of Robert A. Erickson, 42 at the mobile home they shared on Pearson Road. As part of the plea agreement, the first-degree murder charge, which carried a life sentence, was dropped.
District Attorney James Epstein told the court he accepted the agreement because he believes a jury trial would have resulted in a conviction for third-degree murder. He added that the prosecution will not oppose parole when Robinson becomes eligible in 15 years. The victim's family, however, is free to oppose Robinson's parole, he noted, and said the decision is up to the parole board. As part of the agreement, Robinson also agreed to refrain from contact with the victim's family.
In a short statement to the court, Robinson said she was sorry "for everything that happened for his family and my family."
Dobson told Robinson her actions were "inexcusable," especially for the lifelong effects her children will suffer.
Recounted events
In court Wednesday, Epstein recounted the events of the night of the shooting. Before the shooting, Erickson and Robinson had gone to a bar, then argued after Robinson learned Erickson had asked another woman out. Robinson told Erickson she wanted him out of the house that night, and then left the bar with a man and woman the couple knew.
When they brought her home, Erickson was lying on the couch watching television. Robinson insisted he leave, and when he refused, she went to a bedroom, loaded a hunting rifle, then returned and pointed it at Erickson. When he still refused to leave, she poked him with the rifle, and it discharged.
A friend's intervention
One of the friends who had brought her home, Judith Knauff, tried to intervene before the shooting, but Robinson shoved her away, Epstein said.
He added that Knauff stated that as they were taking Robinson home, Robinson said that if Erickson were at the residence, she would kill him. However, Robinson said in court Wednesday that she does not remember saying this.
Epstein, in an unusual statement, said that while some in the community believe Knauff had some responsibility for the night's events, "It is perfectly clear that she was not responsible, but behaved in an exemplary fashion." He said Knauff not only tried to prevent the shooting, but also tried to render Erickson first aid while on the phone with emergency operators.
Erickson died in surgery four hours after the shooting.
Robinson, who has been in jail since the shooting, was given credit for 542 days already served.
Before sentencing, Robinson told the judge she had attempted suicide in 1989 and subsequently spent time in a psychiatric institution. She said she takes medication for depression.