Defense attorneys told jurors Robinson had nothing to do with the murder and that Gentry set up the murder on his own, but it took less than four hours for jurors to decide they didn't believe the story.
Robinson was the third and final man convicted of capital murder in Brooks' death.
"When somebody dies, there's never closure," Terri Brooks, Chelsea's mother, said after the hearing, "but I call it resolution."
Brooks' parents looked on Wednesday as the verdict was read. They'd already seen guilty verdicts for the man who helped kill their daughter (Gentry) and the man who actually strangled her (Ted Burnett).
This verdict, however, meant more. As the man who impregnated their daughter and then planned her murder, Brooks' parents believe the most responsibility lies with Robinson.
"Maybe (it was) a little more personal," said Terri Brooks. "Burnett was a stranger, somebody that we really didn't know. It was a little bit different because (Robinson) was responsible."
Darren Brooks, Chelsea's father, already forgave Burnett in an emotional sentencing hearing in late June. Forgiving Robinson, however, will be more difficult. Brooks admitted the day may come when he forgives Robinson, but it wasn't Wednesday.
"I want him to die," Darren Brooks said after a long pause and with voice shaking.
Jurors found Robinson guilty on all of the counts he faced. Besides capital murder, Robinson was also charged with aggravated kidnapping, violation of a protection from abuse order, and multiple sex crimes for his relationship with Brooks.
On Friday, attorneys will begin the penalty phase of the trial. Prosecutors will present aggravating factors (reasons to put Robinson to death), and defense attorneys will present mitigating circumstances (reasons to allow Robinson to live). Jurors must reach a unanimous decision for the death penalty or Robinson will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Everett Gentry was the main prosecution witness in the case, and his testimony helped bring convictions against both Robinson and Burnett. Gentry says Robinson offered him $1,500 to find someone to kill Chelsea Brooks.
Gentry told jurors he offered $500 in cash and drugs to Burnett, a man he sold drugs to. Gentry says he picked Brooks up from a south Wichita skating rink on the night of Friday, June 9, 2006, under the guise he was taking her to see Robinson. Gentry testified Burnett then strangled the girl with an electronics cord as they drove her toward Butler County.
Click on the Cliff's blog listed on this page to see a detailed account of the verdict as it was read in court. You can also see live streaming video from the courtroom on Friday as the penalty phase begins.
