By Sharon Coolidge
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Eric Robinson's shoulders slumped and his mother burst into tears after a jury found him guilty Tuesday of beating an 85-year-old man to death.

It took jurors just under five hours to convict Robinson of aggravated murder and aggravated robbery in the killing of Harry Brown in his Sycamore Township home on Aug. 31, 2002.

The Hamilton County Common Pleas jury must now decide whether the state should execute Robinson, 32. Jurors could also sentence Robinson to spend life in prison with no parole or life with the possibility of parole after 25 or 30 years.

"This is a just verdict for Harry Brown," said Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen.

Robinson said he stopped at Brown's house to borrow $50. But, prosecutors said, when Brown said he had only $40, Robinson pushed him down basement stairs and beat him with his fists and feet.

Robinson ripped off Brown's watch and ring and stole his wallet.

During the sentencing phase of the trial, defense attorneys Norman Aubin and Mark Krumbeinare expected to argue that Robinson's low levels of the brain chemical serotonin coupled with a drug and alcohol-fueled binge caused him to lose control before the beating.

E-mail scoolidge@enquirer.com