FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington Parish Jury Finds Franklinton Man Guilty In Stabbing Death of Girlfriend
August 26, 2024
District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on August 22, 2024, a Washington Parish jury deliberated for less than an hour before finding 56-year-old Paul Robinson of Franklinton guilty of second degree murder in the 2020 stabbing death of his 57-year-old girlfriend, Cristole “Chris” Young Washington. Family and friends of Ms. Washington filled the courtroom throughout the trial and remained until the verdict was returned. Robinson was additionally found guilty of obstruction of justice and possession of cocaine. Chief of Criminal Division Doug Freese and Assistant District Attorney Hank Meyer prosecuted the case. Judge Alan Zaunbrecher presided over the three-day trial. The case was investigated by the Franklinton Police Department.
Testimony during the trial established that Ms. Washington’s body was found in high grass 35 yards from her home during the morning hours of June 1, 2020, by a family friend after the Franklinton Police Department was called to Ms. Washington’s residence to conduct a welfare check requested by her son. She had sustained 23 stab wounds, and a careful investigation by Franklinton Police Department detectives established that she had been killed in the living room of her own home. Two young children in her care were in an adjoining room during the murder and heard some of what occurred in the living room. Afterward, the children saw the defendant with a knife in his hand. The defendant was located in Franklinton and was apprehended after he attempted to flee from the first officer who sought to detain him. He was found in possession of cocaine at the time of his arrest. Following his arrest, the defendant waived his rights and spoke to detectives. He ultimately admitted that he killed Ms. Washington, claiming that he acted in self-defense. This claim was rejected by the jurors.
District Attorney Collin Sims praised the work of the Franklinton Police Department, which not only promptly arrested Mr. Robinson once it was determined he was the perpetrator, but also conducted an extremely effective interview with him and developed evidence that persuaded the jury that Robinson was guilty of not only second degree murder but also obstruction of justice for removing the victim’s body, bloody articles of clothing, the murder weapon and other items from the murder scene. “We are thankful for the effort and professionalism of the detectives who worked well as a team on this case. They have been and continue to be important strategic partners of the District Attorney’s Office as we work to bring justice to victims of violent crime and to their families.”
Judge Zaunbrecher set Robinson’s sentencing for October 7, 2024. Second degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Obstruction of justice carries a sentence of up to forty (40) years in prison at hard labor.