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Thursday, Dec. 04, 2008

Jessamine man accused of trying to kill wife

NICHOLASVILLE — A Jessamine County man faces an attempted murder charge after he allegedly tried to fire a handgun at his estranged wife, police said.

Robert Gill, 54, of Nicholasville pleaded not guilty this week during an appearance in Jessamine District Court.

The encounter allegedly happened at 5:45 p.m. Friday at the Keene Springs Inn restaurant, 209 Keene-South Elkhorn Road. Gill's estranged wife, Deborah, 48, operates the restaurant, Jessamine County Sheriff Kevin Corman said.

"He brandished a weapon and said something like, 'You remember me?' and then pulled the trigger a couple of times," Corman said. "For whatever reason, the gun didn't go off."

Police recovered two unspent .32-caliber rounds from the scene, Corman said.

Gill reportedly also struck his wife in the head several times. Corman did not know whether she required medical attention.

Robert Gill left the restaurant and later went to the University of Kentucky Hospital emergency room complaining of chest pains, Corman said. He was later transferred to UK HealthCare Good Samaritan in Lexington.

When he was released from there, Lexington police served the warrant for attempted murder, and he was lodged Monday in the Jessamine County jail, Corman said.

Gill violated a domestic violence order by having contact with his estranged wife, Corman said. On Oct. 30, Gill was charged with wanton endangerment and fourth-degree assault after restraining his wife on the ground and striking her several times on the torso and left arm, according to court documents.

He also allegedly kicked her several times, then sat on her chest, placed a utility knife to her throat, and told her "If you're going to do this to me, I'm just going to kill you."

He paid $125 on Nov. 1 to get out of jail on those charges, court records say.

Then, in mid-November, he reportedly violated a domestic-violence order by following Deborah Gill to her aunt's house and speaking to her. He had called her the night before.

A preliminary hearing on the attempted murder charge is scheduled for Monday. At that time, a district judge will hear evidence and determine whether there is probable cause to send the case to a grand jury for possible indictment.

Gill remains in the Jessamine County jail in lieu of a $500,000 cash bond.