Man convicted of 1986 Plymouth murder faces probation and asks to leave hearing – Boston News, Weather, Sports

PLYMOUTH, MASS. (WHDH) – A man convicted of a 1986 murder in Plymouth appeared before a parole board Thursday, but the hearing was canceled.

A white-haired Kurt Kegler, who now walks with a cane and wears glasses, came before the board 38 years after the murder of a paraplegic man named Paul Rober. Authorities said Kegler, his girlfriend and a friend lured Rober, 23, to an abandoned doghouse in Plymouth before beating and strangling him to death.

Kegler pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in 1988. Thursday's parole hearing was the first at which Kegler spoke about the crime.

“Put a noose around his head and hang him,” he said at the hearing.

But 40 minutes into the hearing, Kegler asked to leave.

A member of the parole board tried to stop him, saying he should have applied for parole.

“I won't get it anyway. I already know that. Can I go?” Kegler asked.

Kegler decided to stay, but the parole board adjourned the hearing. They said Kegler should consult an attorney before resuming the hearing, although he did not want to speak with one.

The victim's brother, Jim Robert, said he hoped to speak to Kegler personally.

“I wanted us to have a chance to go up and do our impact statement, to hear how we felt, what my brother deserved and what he didn't deserve, and now we have to go over it again,” he said.

It was unclear whether the hearing would continue as Kegler said he would not be returning.

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