Pa. man convicted of 3rd-degree murder in stabbing

October 8, 2011 at 5:35p.m.

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — A northeastern Pennsylvania man has been convicted of third-degree murder in the stabbing death of his former girlfriend almost two years ago.

Jurors in Luzerne County deliberated for about three hours Thursday before convicting 46-year-old Robert George Zola in the December 2009 death of 35-year-old Rosemarie Cave. Prosecutors said he waited for Cave to return to her Plymouth Township home and then stabbed her eight times.

Zola had pleaded guilty to third-degree murder last spring but withdrew the plea. He faces 20 to 40 years under state guidelines when he is sentenced Nov. 9.

Defense attorney Ferris Webby said the verdict was appropriate, adding that his client was highly intoxicated at the time. Luzerne County Assistant District Attorney Chester Dudick said relatives of the victims were satisfied with the verdict.