Yahoo Autos Food Network ‘Worst Cooks In America’ Star Guilty Of Homicide By Child Abuse, Gets Life Sentence
It took just an hour of deliberations for a Greenville County South Carolina jury to find former Food Network star Ariel Robinson guilty of homicide by child abuse.
The verdict ended a four-day trial that included testimony from Robinson and her husband, as well as graphic pictures of the injuries inflicted on 3-year-old Victoria “Tori” Smith.
More from Deadline
Food Network 'Worst Cooks In America' Winner's Murder Trial Looms In 3-Year-Old's Death
Guy Fieri's 'Tournament Of Champions' Renewed For Season 3 At Food Network
Robinson, age 30, was sentenced Thursday to life in prison, according to Judge Letitia Verdin. Her husband is awaiting his sentencing.
EARLIER: The former winner of the Food Network’s Worst Cooks in America reality competition is expected to testify on Thursday in her South Carolina murder trial.
Ariel Robinson stands accused of homicide by child abuse in the death of 3-year-old Victoria “Tori” Smith. The child was under the care of Robinson and her husband in a foster program.
The prosecution rested its case Wednesday. Before they did, the jury on Tuesday heard from Austin Robinson, Ariel Robinson’s husband. He gave a tearful account of his wife’s alleged abuse of the child. He has pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting homicide by child abuse.
He said his wife used a belt on Smith because the young girl was not eating her breakfast pancakes fast enough. The child suffered severe bruising and later died from internal injuries sustained during the beating.
Austin Robinson said on the day of the beating, his wife was heard yelling at the child and he could hear her beating Smith even though he was outside in his yard. He claimed he did not know his wife was hitting the child with a belt until he went inside. The beating allegedly went on for about an hour, he said.
Defense attorney Bill Bouton tried to knock down Austin Robinson’s testimony, getting him to admit that he had often lied to his wife during their 14-year marriage. He acknowledged he lied when he told her he graduated from high school and later earned a GED, even as she threw a party to celebrate. He also fibbed twice about losing a job and pawned items without telling his wife.
Austin Robinson faces 10 to 20 years in prison and will be sentenced at the trial’s end. Homicide by child abuse carries a 25- year-to-life sentence.
