The Nation - News from April 14, 1987
A federal magistrate recommended denial of a petition seeking freedom for Roswell Gilbert, the 77-year-old Florida man convicted of killing his ailing wife, Emily, 72. The recommendation by U.S. Magistrate William C. Turnoff now goes to a U.S. District judge, who will issue a formal ruling. Gilbert had claimed his constitutional rights were abridged when the prosecutor did not pursue the death penalty, thus depriving his attorneys a chance to argue mitigating circumstances. Gilbert received a life sentence in 1985. Turnoff said Gilbert had not exhausted his appeals in Florida courts.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
