An Edmonton man has been found guilty of second-degree murder in his estranged wife’s 2014 death.
The jury in Gilbert Robinson’s trial came back with the verdict early Saturday afternoon.
Robinson’s estranged wife Gina Robinson was found dead at his home in April 2014.
Robinson showed little emotion when the guilty verdict was read as he stood in the prisoner box.
However, Gina’s friends and family who were in the courtroom Saturday did show emotion.
The jury did not have a unanimous recommendation for sentencing before the judge dismissed them from service Saturday afternoon.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for April 4 and 5.
The emotions of Gina’s friends and family were evident outside Edmonton’s Provincial Court building.
Gina’s sister Michelle Chimko said justice was served.
“We’re feeling really good. We’ve been waiting almost four years for justice for my sister, for Gina. Today, it happened,” she said.
“Obviously nothing can ever replace my sister to myself and my family or my friends that are here. But yes, justice was served and we look forward to a sentencing.”
Chimko extended words of thanks to the Crown prosecutors, Edmonton police and victim services. She also said a special thank you to friends of Gina who attended the trial and wore purple scarves, a symbol for awareness of domestic violence.
“Their purple scarves are symbolic of the justice they wanted for my sister and also for domestic violence against women that is not always physical but can be deadly in its force,” she said.
“It can be stopped. It is not without the support of friends and family like you see behind us. It’s unfortunate that this – my sister’s instance – turned into tragedy but it doesn’t have to.”
Chimko teared up as she reflected on what she would say to Gina if she could.
“I would say, ‘why did you go over there, to that house that night’? But then I would say to her, ‘you would be proud of all of us and proud of my family that supported her’ and give her a hug.”
Denise Snowden and 10 other women had been friends with Gina for years, meeting once a month over their long friendship. The group sat in the courtroom Saturday wearing their purple scarves.
“During the trial, it was very difficult to listen to because the victim is lost. She became the woman at the bottom of the stairs and we would like you to know Gina was far more than that,” she said.
“She lived life to its fullest. She was an extremely strong person, even in the demise of her marriage, she was a happy, positive person.”
Snowden echoed calls for greater awareness of domestic violence.
“There are necessary actions that need to be taken – victims need to tell a friend, a family member and most importantly, tell the police. Stop the silence and end the violence,” she said.
Prosecutor Domina Hussain said she was happy for Gina’s family.
Hussain said she is still contemplating a recommendation for sentencing.
The defence declined to comment.
After weeks of testimony, the Crown prosecutor closed its case Wednesday. Domina Hussain described Gina’s death as no accident, and that she was severely beaten with a piece of lumber.
“This was murder,” Hussain told the court Wednesday.
READ MORE: Crown says Edmonton woman severely beaten with 2×4: ‘This was not an accident. This was murder’
Robinson told family, friends and police that Gina had likely fallen down the stairs.
The medical examiner ruled Gina’s death was not an accident and concluded her injuries were “multiple blunt force trauma.”
During the trial, court heard the couple separated in February 2012, and they were in the process of ending their 30-year marriage. Hussain told the jury the divorce led to related financial consequences.
READ MORE: Edmonton woman’s friend testifies accused murderer said his wife ‘fell down the stairs’
The Crown said on April 22, 2014, Gina went to Robinson’s home and she was supposed to call her friend when she left. By 9 p.m., there was no phone call.
Hussain said Gina’s friend drove to Robinson’s house and knocked on the door. Court heard that Gina was found in a pool of blood at the bottom of Gilbert’s basement stairs.
READ MORE: Witnesses in Edmonton murder trial describe Gina Robinson’s injuries: ‘They were catastrophic’
Hussain said Gina was rushed to the Royal Alexandra Hospital that night with numerous injuries and died the next day.
Watch below: Ongoing Global News coverage of Gilbert Robinson’s second-degree murder trial