Defense attorneys for the man accused of murdering 82-year-old paleontologist Charles Repenning rested their case Thursday without presenting one piece of evidence or a single witness.
Jefferson County prosecutors had spent 10 days trying to convince a jury that Richard Kasparson, 34, was one of two men who suffocated Repenning in his Lakewood home in January during a drug-motivated robbery.
Kasparson, who is charged with eight crimes, including first-degree murder, felony murder and first-degree burglary, faces life in prison if convicted. His alleged accomplice, Mike Wessel, will be tried on similar charges in January.
William Repenning, the victim’s son, who lives in Lakewood, was the last prosecution witness to testify, telling the 13-member jury that his father was frail and diabetic. His body was found next to his bed with a sock stuffed in his mouth and his air passages wrapped under four layers of an elastic bandage.
Repenning’s son testified that his father’s house was filled with items his father had collected, including World War II swords and guns, fossils and scientific instruments.
Five people, including Kasparson and his wife, Ginny, have been charged with various crimes stemming from the Jan. 5 burglary and murder.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Jensen charged that the burglary was planned by Nicholas Savagian to buy back his father’s motorcycle from his boss, Michael Mapps. Savagian offered Kasparson and Wessel $1,000 and an eighth of an ounce of methamphetamine to burglarize Repenning’s home and give the articles to Mapps.
Kasparson’s wife confessed to being an accomplice and testified against her husband in exchange for leniency in her sentencing this month. Savagian also confessed to being an accomplice and will be sentenced in December.
Staff writer Mike McPhee can be reached at 303-820-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com.
