FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Waterbury, CT) – Maureen T. Platt, Waterbury State’s Attorney, today announced that a jury in Waterbury Superior Court on July 20, 2023 found Franklin Robinson, age 40, of Naugatuck, guilty of the crimes of Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 53a-8 and 53a-54(a), Attempted Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 53a-49(a)(2), 53a-8 and 53a-54a(a), Assault in the First Degree in violation of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 53a-8 and 53a-59(a)(1), Conspiracy to Commit Murder in violation of Connecticut General Statutes §§ 53a-48 and 53a-54a(a) and Murder under Pinkerton theory of liability in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 53a-54a(a). The Honorable Brian Preleski presided over the trial.
According to evidence introduced at trial, the defendant was jealous of a man who had said hello to his girlfriend on a previous occasion. On the morning of April 9, 2022, the defendant had an argument with this man and his friends. In response to that argument, the defendant recruited two of his associates to find and shoot the man and his friends. During the afternoon hours of April 9, 2022, the defendant and his two associates found the car that was their target parked on Orange Street in Waterbury. They then exited their vehicle and fired 22 bullets at the targeted car. All bullets missed the intended target. Instead, Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi, 56, was fatally struck by the gunfire while she was ironing in her home. Another innocent victim of the shooting was wounded and later recovered.
Forensic evidence showed the defendant's associate fired the fatal bullet that killed Mabel Martinez. Robinson was found criminally liable for murder for his actions of recruiting, targeting and shooting both as an accessory to murder and murder under the Pinkerton theory of liability (Pinkerton v. United States). Pinkerton theory of liability holds a conspirator accountable for the actions of a co-conspirator if the criminal acts arose out of the conspiracy. Here, the three men had conspired to commit murder and in acting upon that conspiracy, an innocent person was murdered.
Sentencing is scheduled for November 1, 2023 in Waterbury Superior Court.
The case was prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Don E. Therkildsen, Jr. and Assistant State’s Attorney Alexandra Arroyo. Inspectors Michael Slavin and Gary Pelosi assisted with the case.