WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Murder Mastermind Faces up to 20 Years

Murder Mastermind Faces up to 20 Years

Haverhill, New Hampshire - October 26, 2009

The fourth person charged in connection with the murder of a Groton man admitted his guilt Monday. 

19-year-old Micheal Robie did not speak much at Monday's hearing other than to plead guilty to four counts he faced. Prosecutors say Robie, his girlfriend Amber Talbot, and two other friends,  Timothy Smith and Anthony Howe, all conspired to kill Christopher Gray of Groton last October.

"They took away all out future plans with him, they wasted his future. They wasted a young life that had a lot of potential. That can never be brought back," said Gray's aunt Shirley Kingsbury. 

However, Robie did not admit to murder charges Monday. Instead he pleaded guilty to assault and conspiracy to commit assault, along with two other lesser charges. Prosecutors say Robie, who was in jail at the time of the murder, told the other accomplices that he wanted Gray beat up for flirting with Talbot, his girlfriend. Gray and Talbot worked together at a nearby Wal*Mart. The prosecutor also told the judge that when Smith and Howe said they were going to kill Gray, Robie did not object.

"I think what the evidence show is this was a joint venture among four individuals. So I think it is best to characterize this as a true conspiracy amongst four individuals. Each one of them had various roles," said Senior Assistant Attorney General Jeff Strelzin.

Robie's role took place from jail through a series of phones calls. A fact that concerns Gray's family.

"I have a lot of questions about why they didn't catch this. He's right in jail already. How could he possible get away with doing that," said Gray's father Michael.

A brutal attack that left left one man dead after being choked and stabbed over 30 times.

"Even after he was dead they kicked him about. With no remorse what so ever. To do that is just inhuman," said Kingsbury.

Robie is looking at a minimum of 20 years for the four charges, however, family members of the victim say that is still not enough.

The judge ordered that a pre-sentence evaluation take place. An actual sentencing date has not been set. Smith, Howe and Talbot have already been sentenced for their roles in the murder.

Adam Sullivan - WCAX News