Henderson men gets 40 years in bludgeoning death of wife

By Matt Pordum (contact)

Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005 | 9:50 a.m.

A 59-year-old man convicted of fatally stabbing and bludgeoning his wife at their Henderson home was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison Wednesday.

A Clark County jury previously convicted Robert Eugene Allen of murder for using an antique clothes iron and knife to kill his 38-year-old wife, Laurel M. Allen, at the couple's apartment in Victory Village, 501 E. Lake Mead Drive, in August 2003.

At trial Robert Allen's attorneys claimed he had acted in a "fit of rage" and killed his wife because he believed she was having an affair.

In court Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Steve Watters emphasized that Robert Allen did nothing to help Laurel Allen after the attack, but instead "left her face down in a pool of blood."

"Nothing she did could be construed as justifying her death, and it's a complete tragedy that she is not here today," Watters said.

Before telling District Judge Donald Mosley he wanted to have some of the evidence -- a watch, ring and some money -- returned now that the trial was over, Allen said he was sorry.

"Yeah, I'm sorry it happened," Allen said. "I'm remorseful, guilty and shameful."

Allen's attorney, Deputy Public Defender Bob Amundson, said that during the two years he has been representing Allen, Allen has consistently told him that he wished he "could only take that day back."

"He (Allen) really did love this women. They had their differences, but something happened that day and he snapped," Amundson said.

Laurel Allen's aunt, Laurel Westland, said that when Robert Allen killed her niece he also killed a mother, daughter, sister and cousin.

"I hope you rot in prison in your own personal hell," Westland said.

Westland emphasized that Laurel Allen's two sons are now without a mother and that Robert Allen's attack had "disfigured her (Laurel Allen) so badly her own mother couldn't see her before she was buried."

Prosecutors said after Laurel Allen answered a phone call and told her husband it was "some woman from Chase Manhattan Bank" Robert Allen checked the caller ID and determined it was "that guy that just keeps calling around here all the time.'

Robert Allen then began applying oil to Laurel Allen's body to treat her psoriasis and told detectives, "I put the lotion on an I got to thinking she's lying through her teeth and I snapped, I just snapped," according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said he inflicted at least 19 wounds on her.

Roughly two months before killing his wife Robert Allen had been arrested on charges of domestic violence against her.