Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Newport — A 45-year-old Charlestown man has been convicted of second-degree murder in the slaying of his wife on the day she filed for divorce.
A Sullivan Superior Court jury early this afternoon delivered its verdict in the trial of James Robarge.
Prosecutors alleged Robarge killed his estranged wife, Kelly, at their Happy Acres Road home in Charlestown in June 2013, then dumped her body in the woods of Unity.
Prosecutors said cell-phone records and blood evidence indicated James Robarge was at the home that day. His defense raised questions about the reliability of cell-phone records and DNA evidence, saying prosecutors couldn’t account for the DNA of another man also found at the home.
T he trial began Jan. 15, when the jury visited key locations in the case. Opening statements took place the next day.
Robarge took the stand for two days last week, and the jury began its deliberations on Monday.
Find a full report in Thursday’s Valley News. A full collection of stories covering the trial is at this link: http://www.vnews.com/topic/?t=Robarge
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Posted online Wednesday at 2 p.m. Follow the Valley News on Twitter @VNewsUV.