Jury Rejects Demonic Voices Claim In Harrah's Killing

JOLIET, IL — A Will County six-person civil jury agreed that Robert A. Watson is mentally fit to stand trial in the March 24, 2019, slaying of a 76-year-old Wisconsin man. Watson stabbed Emanuel Burgarino of Hales Corners, Wis., 26 times after ambushing the guest of Joliet's Harrah's Casino during a Sunday night hotel hallway robbery, according to prosecutors.

The jury verdict came shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday in the courtroom of Judge Dave Carlson. During the previous two days, jurors heard evidence from differing psychiatrists on whether Watson is mentally fit to stand trial for the brutal Joliet stabbing. The prosecution's expert witness argued that Watson is faking a mental illness while the psychiatrist used by the Will County Public Defender's Office maintained that Watson is delusional and has psychotic episodes that hamper his ability to work with his defense lawyers on his first-degree murder case.

At the time of the March 2019 slaying, Watson had been a transient who recently came to Joliet. He had previously lived in Arizona, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Florida and Minnesota.

The Joliet Police Department arrested Watson the morning after the killing. He was found inside the downtown Joliet Public Library, according to testimony. The violent crime was captured on the video surveillance cameras inside the Harrah's Casino.

Joliet Patch trial coverage:

Demonic Voices Inside Joliet Murder Defendant's Head, Doctor Says

Is Harrah's Murder Defendant Faking His Mental Illness?