June 18, 2013

Former Penn prof who killed wife set to be paroled

BY: AP Staff Writer JANUARY 17, 2013 | MODIFIED: JANUARY 17, 2013 AT 7:31 AM
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NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) — A former Ivy League professor who pleaded guilty to beating his wife to death as she wrapped Christmas presents is set to be paroled.

Rafael Robb was sentenced in December 2008 to 5 to 10 years in prison in the December 2006 death of his wife, Ellen, in suburban Philadelphia. Robb pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in 2007.

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman says she recently learned that Robb is set to be released on parole later this month. She says she's asked the state parole board to reconsider the decision.

Ferman says she thinks the board didn't consider all issues surrounding the case.

Robb, who was once a tenured economics professor at University of Pennsylvania, said in court that the killing happened in "a moment of madness."

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