UPDATE: 3:30 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The man accused of killing the co-owner of a check-cashing business in North Philadelphia in November of 2021 has been found guilty of all charges.
The family of Aruna Mittal in the courtroom wiped away tears as the jury read the verdict: Robert Jiles was found guilty on all counts, including first-degree murder, robbery and firearm offenses.
Jiles pleaded not guilty, but a jury was persuaded that he did shoot and kill 67-year-old Aruna Mittal. Born in India, Mittal lived in Gwynedd and owned, with her husband, Any Checks Cashed on the 5800 block of Old York Road, just off North Broad Street.
After a juror was excused for anxiety issues Tuesday morning, an alternate was moved in and opening arguments got underway.
Over two days, prosecutors called investigators and experts to the stand to testify, including a homicide detective, a crime scene unit officer, the doctor from the Medical Examiner's Office who performed the victim's autopsy, and a DNA expert who analyzed samples taken from the scene and from the body of the victim.
Jiles' DNA appeared on both hands of the victim. And the attack, murder and robbery were caught on the business's security cameras.
That footage was shown to the jury. Family members who were in the courtroom saw the video and relived the unthinkable moments of Nov, 16, 2021. Jiles can be seen following Mittal into the business. There is a struggle, and then he shoots her twice, in the head and chest, killing her. Jiles can then be seen robbing the business of cash before he runs.
The defense pointed to Jiles's treatment at a methadone clinic near the business. They say he suffered from an addiction for decades, and they argued that he did not intend to kill Mittal.
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There was initially a possibility that Jiles would not make it to the trial Tuesday due to a delay of a prescribed methadone pill at the prison where he is being housed. He eventually did receive it and was transported to the courthouse.
The judge told Jiles that the prison assured if there isn’t a methadone pill for him in the morning during the days ahead, there will be one waiting for him when he returns to the facility. The judge made it clear that he needs to get on the bus on time, and the trial will continue with or without him.
Closing arguments wrapped up earlier Wednesday.
In the end, the jury sided with prosecutors in this case, and the judge sentenced Jiles to mandatory life in prison.
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