SoUncool
June 11th, 2008, 09:35 PM
B-E-N-J-O and Benjo was his name - O!
Emotional Plea For 82-Year-Old Man Who Says Murder Was Mercy Killing
http://i26.tinypic.com/4pxp3b.jpg
http://www.wftv.com/news/16577070/detail.html
DELTONA, Fla. -- There was an emotional plea Wednesday from the family of an 82-year-old man accused of killing his sick wife. The man says he shot his wife to end her pain. She was suffering from cancer, among other illnesses.
A judge is letting the man out of jail without posting any bond, but he could still end up going to prison. His family hopes, despite being accused of murder, he won't have to go back behind bars.
Robert Benjo wiped away tears as he sat in a Volusia County courtroom Wednesday. He admitted to killing his 76-year-old wife, but his family says he's no murderer.
"I know my mom was getting very ill. It was just very hard for us to do anything for her," said Steven Benjo, the victim's son.
His family says Benjo was a devoted husband who wanted to do one last thing for his wife Peggy. He shot her as she slept in the couple's Deltona home. She had been suffering from cancer and Alzheimer's for a long time and apparently begged him to help her die.
"She said, 'I lost everything, I'm unhealthy, I don't have the will to live.' And I said, 'Mom, you have to have the will to live,' and she said, 'I just don't have the energy,'" said Teresa Hiller, the victim's daughter.
The couple's doctor said Peggy had less than a year to live. Even he believes this was nothing other than a mercy killing.
"Mercy or she begged him to do it and it would be a mercy act. She was suffering so much," said Dr. Robert Dominguez, the victim's doctor.
After the shooting, Benjo threatened to take his own life. The judge's main concern was that he may try to commit suicide again. But after assurances from family members, the judge decided to release him without bond.
"We just want him to come home so we can take care of him. We will figure this out, whatever we have to do," said Janet Benjo, the victim's daughter-in-law.
As a condition for the release, Benjo will get a psychological evaluation and take any medication that he is prescribed.
The State Attorney's Office has not formally charged Benjo with any crime. His attorney is hoping charges won't be filed or he'll get manslaughter. In that case, he won't have to go prison.
Benjo's attorney said there was a similar case in Volusia County four years ago when a man shot his sick wife. He was convicted of manslaughter and did not go to prison.
Emotional Plea For 82-Year-Old Man Who Says Murder Was Mercy Killing
http://i26.tinypic.com/4pxp3b.jpg
http://www.wftv.com/news/16577070/detail.html
DELTONA, Fla. -- There was an emotional plea Wednesday from the family of an 82-year-old man accused of killing his sick wife. The man says he shot his wife to end her pain. She was suffering from cancer, among other illnesses.
A judge is letting the man out of jail without posting any bond, but he could still end up going to prison. His family hopes, despite being accused of murder, he won't have to go back behind bars.
Robert Benjo wiped away tears as he sat in a Volusia County courtroom Wednesday. He admitted to killing his 76-year-old wife, but his family says he's no murderer.
"I know my mom was getting very ill. It was just very hard for us to do anything for her," said Steven Benjo, the victim's son.
His family says Benjo was a devoted husband who wanted to do one last thing for his wife Peggy. He shot her as she slept in the couple's Deltona home. She had been suffering from cancer and Alzheimer's for a long time and apparently begged him to help her die.
"She said, 'I lost everything, I'm unhealthy, I don't have the will to live.' And I said, 'Mom, you have to have the will to live,' and she said, 'I just don't have the energy,'" said Teresa Hiller, the victim's daughter.
The couple's doctor said Peggy had less than a year to live. Even he believes this was nothing other than a mercy killing.
"Mercy or she begged him to do it and it would be a mercy act. She was suffering so much," said Dr. Robert Dominguez, the victim's doctor.
After the shooting, Benjo threatened to take his own life. The judge's main concern was that he may try to commit suicide again. But after assurances from family members, the judge decided to release him without bond.
"We just want him to come home so we can take care of him. We will figure this out, whatever we have to do," said Janet Benjo, the victim's daughter-in-law.
As a condition for the release, Benjo will get a psychological evaluation and take any medication that he is prescribed.
The State Attorney's Office has not formally charged Benjo with any crime. His attorney is hoping charges won't be filed or he'll get manslaughter. In that case, he won't have to go prison.
Benjo's attorney said there was a similar case in Volusia County four years ago when a man shot his sick wife. He was convicted of manslaughter and did not go to prison.