“I’m innocent,” were the first words out of Rosalie Kennedy’s mouth during her sentencing hearing Thursday.
Rosalie Kennedy, left, proclaims she is innocent as her attorney Tina McFall looks on during a sentencing hearing Thursday before Logan County Common Pleas Judge William T. Goslee (EXAMINER PHOTO | JOEL E. MAST)
“I loved my husband. He was my world,” the convicted murderer told Logan County Common Pleas Court Judge William T. Goslee. “I love my family and he was my family. I have grieved for him every day.”
The 63-year-old woman will have the rest of her life in prison to continue grieving after Judge Goslee imposed a life sentence for murder.
In Ohio, Judge Goslee noted he did have latitude to vary from sentencing guidelines and told Kennedy she might be eligible for parole after she served a mandatory three years for using a gun and 15 years on the murder charge.
Kennedy was found guilty Nov. 11 of shooting and killing her 66-year-old husband, Gary, on March 10 inside the couple’s 8100 Township Road 110, Rushsylvania, home. A jury of six men and six women returned guilty verdicts on murder and felonious assault, a second-degree felony.
The counts were merged for sentencing purposes at the request of defense attorney Tina McFall and with no objections from the Logan County Prosecutor’s Office.
McFall had filed a lengthy motion seeking a new trial claiming she was not fully informed of a 90-minute tape recording made without her client’s knowledge while the defendant was in a Logan County Sheriff’s Department cruiser.
Judge Goslee denied the motion prior to sentencing. McFall told the judge she intends to appeal his decision and asked if Kennedy could be released on bond pending the appeal.
Judge Goslee denied the request.
Speaking for the victim, Gary’s son Jason Kennedy said, “It’s difficult to imagine what Gary went through. Our family is deeply pained by how Gary’s life ended.
“He did not deserve the ending of life he was given. This will haunt us forever.”
He asked the judge to give Kennedy the maximum sentence.
“Listening to the 911 tape (and other evidence), I think we saw a glimpse of what he regularly experienced when he was alive,” the son said.
“In Christ, we can forgive Rose for what she did, but we will never forget what she did.”