An attorney for the defendant charged with the July 2011 murder of Christiana Fesmire has filed four motions in Androscoggin Superior Court. Fesmire’s parents live in Bremen.
Buddy Robinson, 30, was arrested in New Gloucester on Oct. 13. During a brief appearance in Androscoggin County Superior Court in Lewiston Oct. 14, he was charged with murder. On Nov. 10, he entered a plea of not guilty.
In one of four May 17 motions, Robinson’s attorney, Edward Dilworth calls for a speedy trial and states, “The defendant is greatly concerned and feels the longer it takes to get to trial the less likely he can have a fair trial.”
It also contends that the lapse in time could cause witnesses’ memories to “fade or change.”
Another of the motions requests the transcript of all Grand Jury proceedings in the matter. The motion cites “inconsistencies” during hearings into the case and states that, “There is an unfair advantage to the state to have knowledge of the witnesses’ grand jury testimony.”
In a third motion, Robinson asks to be permitted to appear at all court proceedings in civilian clothing instead of prison clothing, and without restraints.
“The manner in which Buddy Robinson is portrayed by the media will have a tremendous impact on his ability to receive a fair trial,” the motion states, adding that images of Robinson in orange jail uniforms and shackles, shown in newspapers and on television, are “extremely prejudicial to him.”
The last motion lists 22 electronic devices ranging from an iPod Touch to personal computers that are now in the custody of Maine State Police, as well as “complete, unedited audio and video recordings, notes, summaries, documents and transcripts” of 28 interviews, videos and telephone conversations that relate to the case.
The motion also asks the state to turn over to the defense Robinson’s military journal and a number of receipts, photographs, police officers’ notes and reports, email messages, letters and other documents.
Last August, Fesmire’s mother, Deborah Fesmire, told The Lincoln County News that she and Christiana’s father, Chester Fesmire, last saw their daughter in June when she spent two nights at the family’s home. Chester Fesmire drove Christiana back to her home in Lewiston during the early afternoon, June 30.
Her body has not been recovered.
According to the 18-page affidavit filed in Androscoggin County Superior Court, police allege Robinson drowned Fesmire in a bathtub July 1 and subsequently disposed of her body in “a swampy area” after carrying it more than two miles off a paved road.
The affidavit states that at one time Robinson and Fesmire were both residents of a two-unit apartment house on Highland Avenue in Lewiston.
Fesmire occupied a downstairs apartment. Robinson lived upstairs, with his sister, Brandi Robinson, Brandi’s boyfriend and her 8-year-old son.
According to the affidavit friends in Lewiston last saw Fesmire on July 1. On Oct. 13, Brandi Robinson voluntarily met with Lewiston police and allegedly said Buddy Robinson told her he drowned Fesmire in a bathtub after arguing with her July 1.
