Ex-Convict Gets Life Sentence for Torture

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

An ex-convict has been sentenced to life in prison yesterday for the sadistic, 19-hour rape and torture of a Columbia University graduate student.

Robert Williams was convicted last month in Manhattan of attempted murder, rape, kidnapping, and arson. His actual sentence — 422 years — was pronounced by a state Supreme Court Justice, Carol Berkman, who said that for the sake of public safety she doesn’t ever want him to get out of prison.

The victim identified Williams in court while testifying about her agonizing April 2007 ordeal. He scalded her with boiling water, tried to blind her with bleach, forced her to swallow fistfuls of painkillers, and ordered her to gouge out her eyes with scissors. He also glued her lips shut and gagged her with duct tape before torching her apartment.


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use