Hightower convicted of murder

AURORA | An Aurora man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend 60 times and shot her four times in 2007 was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison Wednesday. 

Marcus Ariel Hightower, 26, was accused of killing Abigail Robertson in December 2007 at Robertson’s apartment in Glendale. 

According to Arapahoe County prosecutors, the three-week trial ended Tuesday and jurors deliberated for just three hours before reaching their verdict. The verdict was read in court Wednesday morning.

After the verdict, a judge immediately sentenced Hightower to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Colorado. 

Hightower’s lawyers argued he was not guilty by reason of insanity. 

According to a statement from prosecutors, Hightower and Robertson broke up in June 2007. 

On Dec. 11, 2007, Hightower broke into Robertson’s apartment while she was on the phone talking to her new boyfriend. 

The boyfriend testified that he heard Hightower tell Robertson he “didn’t want it to come to this” before the attack. 

After the slaying, Hightower called police and, posing as a neighbor, asked for help. 

Then he drove to Aurora police headquarters and told police there “I think I did something wrong.  I think I may have hurt my girlfriend.”

Police later found a gun, cell phone and knife discarded in a trash can outside of the Aurora police station. Inside the mini van Hightower was driving investigators found binoculars and ammunition in a backpack, items prosecutors say indicated Hightower planned the murder and had been stalking Robertson.

“This is a case about rejection, and revenge,” Deputy District Attorney Jacob Edson told the jury during closing arguments.  “Marcus Hightower knew exactly what he was doing when he murdered Abigail Robertson.”

Robertson’s mother addressed Hightower before the sentencing. 

“If you would’ve let time pass you would’ve gotten over the pain of the end of your relationship with Abigail,” Kathy Robertson said.  “Abigail was not yours to take Marcus.  She did not belong to you.  She belonged to me and her father.”