Woman Convicted; Twin Acquitted
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BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. — Jurors on Friday convicted one woman of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder but acquitted her twin sister of charges that they helped to kill the 85-year-old man each had married twice.
Darlene Phillips was convicted of the most serious charge but cleared of all other charges. Her sister, Delores Christenson, was acquitted of all charges.
Phillips received mandatory life in prison.
One of the twins was named beneficiary of the man’s estate.
Phillips and Christenson, 46, each has been married four times. Both had brushes with the law before they were indicted in the death of Walter Gibbs, who was slain April 1, 1990, at his home in Lemmon.
Jerome D. Phillips, 38, a convicted rustler who is married to Darlene but says he is in love with her sister, confessed to smothering Gibbs with a pillow. He testified at the twins’ trial this week that Darlene helped hold down Gibbs.
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