Princeton graduate Thomas Gilbert Jr who shot millionaire father in the head over allowance dispute sentenced to 30 years
PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY: Thomas Gilbert Jr, who made headlines in 2015 for murdering his father was sentenced to 30 years of prison in New York City on Friday, September 27. The 34-year old shot his father dead after having an argument with him because he threatened to cut his allowance.
Gilbert Jr. had tried to plead not guilty by way of insanity, however, the court rejected the plea as he had sent his mother, Shelley, out to fetch him a coca-cola and a sandwich before killing his father. This motive suggested pre-meditation.
According to Daily Mail, Shelly addressed the court to ask the judge for leniency and was "weepy" as she read the statement aloud. She called Gilbert Jr. "a good boy" who struggled with mental health issues.
It was also reported that the son had no emotional reaction when the sentence was handed. A New York Post report quoted Shelly, "We were once a very happy family and want to be happy again," as she put an unusual twist on her victim's impact statement in the Manhattan Supreme Court.
Gilbert Jr. was living a plush lifestyle with a $1,000-a-week and had his apartment paid for him separately. He had gradually reduced the amount and things took an ugly turn when his father insisted he get a job and reduced the allowance from $400-a-week to $300-a-week.
During the trial, the prosecutors said: "The free ride was going to end. It wasn’t a symptom of psychosis, it was a symptom of entitlement". It was also revealed that he had researched murder online and purchased a gun— a 40-caliber Glock, which he had driven to Ohio to buy to commit the murder.
His father, Gilbert Sr. had recently set up a hedge fund but was turned down for a $1.5million loan to finance it.
His memberships to exclusive clubs in the city and his rent for his Chelsea apartment were paid for by his parents. The monetary backing also involved sorting out his jeep and all the parking tickets he incurred.
The defense claimed Gilbert Jr. was schizophrenic and hence was unable to keep a job. It also stated that this was the reason his parents supported him.
Shelley testified for the defense stating he was "mentally ill". Earlier this year, she said, "Tommy was far sicker than we ever really knew". When the murder was committed, it was Shelley who phoned the cops and in the recorded call, she had told it was the son who had shot her husband.
"He’s nuts, but I didn’t know he was this nuts," she said. In addition, his roommate too testified at the trial that he had tried to kill him "several times".
Talking about the sentence that had been served, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. in his statement said, "'Thomas Gilbert Sr. was a beloved member of his family and business community when his own son murdered him in a cold-blooded killing."
"But now, thanks to my office’s prosecutors, the defendant has finally been held accountable and he will serve a life sentence for this unconscionable crime. While nothing can undo the tragedy of Mr. Gilbert’s death, I hope that the resolution of this case helps his loved as they continue to heal from this devastating loss."