Economics professor and accused murderer Rafael Robb plans to use surveillance-camera footage at several locations that he visited the morning his wife was killed in order to provide an alibi defense at his November trial, according to court papers filed Friday.
In the papers, defense attorney Frank DeSimone outlines Robb's activities on the morning of Dec. 22, 2006, the day Robb's wife, Ellen, was found bludgeoned to death in the couple's Wayne, Pa. home.
Rafael Robb's activities that morning include taking his daughter, Olivia, to school, purchasing fruit in Chinatown, shopping at Wawa and coming to work at Penn, DeSimone said in court papers.
Video surveillance shows some of Robb's activities that day, including arriving at Olivia's school and entering and exiting a University parking garage, DeSimone said.
The papers state that Ellen Robb was alive when Robb was briefly at his home between taking Olivia to school and going to work at Penn, and Wawa surveillance footage shows Robb in the store at around 11:56 a.m.
Authorities say Ellen Robb was killed between 8 a.m. and noon. Robb called the police at 1:45 p.m. to report that he had found her dead body. It is unclear from the papers when he left his home that morning.
Robb faces first-degree murder charges in connection with Ellen Robb's death. He is currently being held without bail in the Montgomery County Prison and has been placed on indefinite academic leave from Penn. His trial is scheduled to start Nov. 26.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
