Robinson Trial Completes First Day

Wednesday, 2 May 2012 07:35

***The following contains graphic content and may not be suitable for some readers**** The first degree murder trial of John Douglas Robinson began this afternoon at the Oxford County Courthouse in Woodstock. Proceedings began at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon. Robinson is charged in the death and dismemberment of 26 year old Clifford Fair after his Mother Pauline Fair, reported him missing to Woodstock Police October 18, 2008. Fair was later found by Police buried in the backyard of his Princess Street home in November of the same year. The jury learned how Robinson dated a woman, Amy-Cassidy Gilbert, who was also charged in the death of Fair as an accessory to murder and was sentenced to 31 months in prison in June 2009. Gilbert will be testifying against her former boyfriend as the key witness in the case. Superior Court Justice Kelly Gorman began by addressing the 7 man, 5 woman jury with an overview of the trial and excused the 2 alternate jury members. In the Assistant Crown Attorney's opening address to the jury, Tom Meehan explained the trial is likely to take 6 weeks to complete. Meehan then described the horrific details of how Fair died. He told the jury how Gilbert will testify how Fair was bludgeoned twice on the back of the head and how Robinson and Gilbert watched him die in the living room of Robinson's triplex and how he and Cassidy-Gilbert buried Fair in the backyard of the Princess Street home. Meehan also told the jury how Robinson later exhumed Fair's body and dismembered his legs and arms and decapitated him- burying his separated parts in holes in his backyard. Clifford Fair's Mother Pauline was the first witness to take the stand who described her son as funny, friendly, giving and caring. Pauline also described how her son loved his 9 year old autistic son T.J. and how she and her son were the best of friends. During cross examination by Defense Anik Morrow, she spoke of how candid Pauline was with Police about Fair's excessive drinking and troubles in Woodstock after moving to the city in 2001. The trial will resume with Fair's Mother back on the witness stand Thursday at 10AM.