Posted on 05/03/2008 10:08:18 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows
FORT WORTH, Texas An Arlington woman who caused her lover's shooting death by falsely crying rape was found guilty Friday of involuntary manslaughter.
Tracy Denise Roberson, 37, cried slightly when the verdict was announced after jurors had deliberated for more than a day. The punishment phase was set for Monday, and she faces two to 20 years in prison.
In late 2006, Darrell Roberson came home from a late-night card game to find his scantily clad wife with another man in a pickup truck in the driveway. Tracy Roberson was with her lover but cried rape, and her husband fired four shots into the truck as Devin LaSalle was driving off, killing him.
Darrell Roberson initially was arrested, but the murder charge later was dropped and a grand jury indicted Tracy Roberson instead.
During her three-day trial, defense attorneys called no witnesses but blamed LaSalle's death on Darrell Roberson's jealousy and rage.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
I like quite a few things you all do there. I’m no stranger. The odds of the woman not getting off are slim though.
Is it legal in Texas to shoot a fleeing rapist? Seems like a good idea ... but obviously you can't call it "self-defense". What's the proper terminology? "Citizen execution"? Inquiring minds want to know ...
The odds of her getting off are slim to none.
Manslaughter is a 2nd degree felony in Texas. Here is the state law on sentencing:
§ 12.33. SECOND DEGREE FELONY PUNISHMENT. (a) An
individual adjudged guilty of a felony of the second degree shall be
punished by imprisonment in the institutional division for any term
of not more than 20 years or less than 2 years.
(b) In addition to imprisonment, an individual adjudged
guilty of a felony of the second degree may be punished by a fine not
to exceed $10,000.
She’s not getting out in *less* than two years. And she’ll be serving some hard time.
Darrell Roberson initially was arrested, but the murder charge later was dropped and a grand jury indicted Tracy Roberson instead.
Yes, it is legal to shoot a fleeing felon (or what you reasonably believe is a fleeing felon) in Texas.
If the corpse had indeed been a rapist, no charges would have been files.
The laws are harsh in most states. I hope she gets it.
As I recall the case, he was originally supposed to have known that his wife was cheating and that he shot his wife’s lover. Unfortunately (for her), witnesses came forward that stated they heard her screaming rape.
Thanks.
So, it ended up being treated as the same as shooting a fleeing thief after dark, since it was, or he believed it was, rape or another felony?
The charges against him then came from suspicion that he was acting out of malice or revenge?
I have to like certain aspects of Texas law.
Yes, and yes.
If it had really been Quincy The Random Rapist that this guy had perforated, no charges would normally have been filed - in general. There are some times when a good DA will put a clearly justifiable shooting in front of a grand jury just to make sure that the shooter is cleared of all charges by that same body (to avoid charges of favoritism, discrimination, etc., etc., as well as pre-Castle Law civil liability).
She’s a professional blind date.
Yeah, you'd have to be blind to date her.
Women who falsely accuse men of rape should be put in jail.
They let the poor husband off? Excellent.
Good point, and the same holds true for the older ladies raping our youth.
Why are they getting off while a male gets serious jail time for the same offense?
“What’s the proper terminology?”
...justice.
“Women who falsely accuse men of rape should be put in jail.” ...in a men’s prison.
This is also a lesson in messin' with a married woman. Despite my nom de Freep, I was not at all totally unsuccessful in the romance department when I was single. On more than one occasion, before and since I married, I had unsolicited opportunities with married woman. I always declined, primarily because the idea of being a home wrecker is repulsive.
I actually view an outraged husband as less of a menace than a dumped wife. Often times, when a woman contemplates adultery, she sees herself setting up house with her new lover. "This time will be different." Why would I want to get involved with that? The defendant in this case was probably hoping her new lover would make a commitment at which time she would dump her husband. She got half her wish, I suppose.
It's the WIC justice program.
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