SHREWSBURY, Mo. — One man was sentenced after taking the responsibility for a deadly 2018 stabbing that happened behind a Walmart in Shrewsbury.
Robin Holland, 31, pleaded guilty to the charge of voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Monday.
According to St. Louis County Police, Holland is connected to the killing of 33-year-old Justin Hughes after the two got into an altercation. Hughes' body was found in a wooded area behind Walmart on Watson Road.
Note: The video below is from when the crime happened in 2018.
Detectives say they were able to piece the crime together after following a trail of Holland’s blood to Hughes’ body. However, they were not able to find the weapon used in the stabbing.
The St. Louis County medical examiner reported that at least four of the stab wounds were lethal.
“This case is a reminder that if someone takes a swing at you, you are not entitled to stab them to death,” said St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell. “It’s also a reminder that using violence to solve your problems only causes bigger problems.”
Holland was also sentenced to three years each for the charges of armed criminal action, tampering with evidence, and abandonment of a corpse. He will serve the sentences simultaneously.
Resources for crime victims:
If you have been a victim of a crime or know someone who has been, 5 On Your Side has compiled a list of resources.
Better Family Life is a nonprofit community development organization working to “stabilize inner-city neighborhoods.” One aspect of its mission is a gun violence de-escalation program.
To learn more, call 314-381-8200 or visit https://www.betterfamilylife.org/
Life Outside of Violence “helps those harmed by stabbing, gunshot or assault receive the treatment, support and resources they need to find alternatives to end the cycle of violence.”
To learn more, call 314-327-6697 or email: ProjectLOV@WUSTL.edu
The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis has an anti-crime program called “Safety Net for Youth Initiative,” which is a joint partnership between and Saint Louis Public Schools to provide services to at-risk youth.
To learn more, visit https://www.ulstl.com/anti-crime-initiative.html
Cure Violence is an international organization that has recently launched in a handful of St. Louis neighborhoods. Violence interrupters are trained to deescalate violent situations within their own communities. To learn more, visit https://cvg.org/
