FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Waterbury, CT) – Maureen T. Platt, Waterbury State’s Attorney, announced that the Honorable Brian Preleski today sentenced Franklin Robinson to 90 years in prison for the 2022 murder of Mabel Martinez Antongiorgi in Waterbury.
A jury in Waterbury Superior Court on July 20, 2023 found 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).
According to evidence introduced at trial, the defendant and two other men were on Walnut Street in Waterbury on April 9, 2022 when multiple gunshots were fired at a vehicle and missed their 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.
Evidence showed the defendant planned the shooting. He was found criminally liable for murder both as an accessory to the murder and also under the Pinkerton theory of liability (Pinkerton v. United States) that means a person can be held responsible for crimes committed by their co-conspirators.
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.