Date of Birth: May 3, 1941
Defendant: Black
Victim: Black

Robinson and Susan Hill lived together for a number of years.

Beginning in 1984, Susan made several efforts to leave Robinson, but he always forced her to return.

In February 1987, Susan left Robinson for a week to visit her father, and stepmother, Sterleen Hill, in Yuma. After this visit, Susan went to California to live with other relatives and did not tell Robinson.

On June 8, 1987, Robinson decided to go to Yuma and bring Susan back. Robinson persuaded his friends, Theodore Washington and Jimmy Mathers, to go with him. The men loaded Robinson's car with weapons and drove to Yuma. Washington was wearing a red bandanna.

Around 11:45 p.m., two men entered the Hills' home, forced Mr. and Mrs. Hill to lie on their bedroom floor, and tied them up. A black man wearing a red bandanna held a gun to Mr. Hill's head, then ransacked the drawers and closet while the second man stood over the Hills.

One of the men shot the Hills with a 12-gauge shotgun. Mrs. Hill died from her wounds but Mr. Hill survived.

Washington, Robinson and Mathers were tried jointly and each received the death penalty. On appeal the state supreme court reversed Mathers' conviction finding insufficient evidence to support the jury verdict.

PROCEEDINGS

    Presiding Judge: H. Stewart Bradshaw
    Prosecutor:  William V. Gallo
    Start of Trial:  December 1, 1987
    Verdict: December 15, 1987
    Sentencing: January 13, 1988

Aggravating Circumstances:

    Procured commission of the offense
    Pecuniary gain (struck on appeal)
    Especially heinous/cruel/depraved

Mitigating Circumstances:

    None

PUBLISHED OPINIONS

    State v. Robinson, 165 Ariz. 51, 796 P.2d 853 (1990)

  

Fred Robinson