Penn professor gets trial date in killing

A Montgomery County judge yesterday scheduled the murder trial of University of Pennsylvania professor Rafael Robb, who is charged with killing his wife, for Nov. 26.

Robb, 56, is accused of the beating death of his wife, Ellen, whose body was discovered in their Upper Merion Township home on Dec. 22.

Defense attorney Frank DeSimone contends that there is not enough evidence to hold the case for trial.

"A myriad of Pennsylvania decisions have shown evidence such as that presented here to be insufficient as a matter of law to sustain a verdict of guilt," DeSimone contended in court papers filed last month.

Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce Castor said that Ellen Robb was beaten beyond recognition. "We think, of course, that indicates she knew the killer," he said in a telephone interview.

Robb, a tenured economics professor, has denied any role in the crime. He told police that he arrived at his home on Forest Road in the early afternoon and found his wife dead on the kitchen floor.

Robb is being held without bail pending trial.