May 16, 2023 · Commercial Gaming Crime & Scandals Legal Live Casinos Harrah's Joliet Robert Watson Sam Burgarino

Harrah’s Joliet Stranger-Killer Guilty of Murder

A homeless man who stabbed a senior citizen to expiry in a hall of the Harrah’s Joliet Casino, on the face of it at random, has been found guilty of first-degree murder, Patch.com reports.

While jurors inward Will County, Ill., 35 miles south-west of Chicago, in agreement(p) that Robert Watson was mentally ill, they rejected the public defenders’ argument that he was not guilty past reason out of insanity.

That substance Thomas Augustus Watson testament get to dish his yet-to-be-determined prison house condemn of between 20 and 100 years fully, although he will get approach to mental health intervention in arrears bars.

Shocking Attack

Watson was arrested on Mar 25, 2019, at the Joliet Public Library, the twenty-four hour period after he stabbed to demise 76-year-old Emanuel “Sam” Burgarino, a sports debar possessor from Wisconsin River and a invitee at the hotel.

During the two-week trial, the panel heard that James Watson prowled the casino for II days, unchallenged past staff inwards the leadup to the shocking attack. Burgarino was knifed 26 times as his girlfriend waited for him on the gaming level below.

Public defenders argued that Thomas Augustus Watson has suffered for the past tense 10 years with untreated schizophrenia. This has caused him to evolve a preoccupancy with water, which he believes is beingness poisoned to moderate his mind.

The prosecution argued that he was faking mental unwellness to avoid the consequences of his crime.

‘Makes No Sense’

During closing arguments, Will Count public shielder Shenonda Tisdale urged jurors to think the security measures video from Harrah’s. This showed Watson clutching his blood-stained authorship papers as he ran from the casino after the attack.

“He’s holding papers inwards his hands, to a greater extent of (the) wild thoughts … simply none of it makes any sense,” she argued, as reported past Patch.com. “This just never should have happened.

There’s been no motive established. No money missing from Mr. Burgarino, and in time the land wants you to believe in that location was a motive when in that respect was not,” she added.

Tisdale suggested James Dewey Watson was delusional at the clip of the putting to death and may get believed Burgarino was “some sort of spirit.”

Burgarino’s girlfriend, Denise Dixon, sued Harrah’s possessor Caesars Entertainment for neglectfulness in February 2021, arguing Harrah’s faculty failed inward their responsibility of upkeep to protect Burgarino.

The showcase went to mediation. But as of June 2022, the parties had failed to hold on a settlement, according to homage documents.

Watson is scheduled to live sentenced on July 31.

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