Husband says he believed wife's rape claim in Arlington shooting

Darrell Roberson said he never considered divorce after finding out his wife had been unfaithful.

For more than 20 years, "we've never had a life without the both of us," Roberson said Tuesday, a day after his wife, Tracy Roberson, was sentenced to five years in prison for her role in the December 2006 shooting death of her lover, Devin LaSalle, 32.

"Sure, I was upset at the situation," Roberson said from the office of his wife's attorney, Jill Davis of Fort Worth. "When I took my marriage vows I took them seriously. I'm going to stick with my family for better or worse."

Roberson found LaSalle and his wife embracing in a truck in front of the Robersons' south Arlington home. After Tracy falsely cried out that she was being raped, Darrell Roberson fatally shot LaSalle, police said.

A grand jury declined to indict Darrell Roberson. Jurors convicted Tracy Roberson of involuntary manslaughter, believing the prosecution's assertions that her actions led to LaSalle's death.

The night of the shooting, Roberson is heard on a 911 tape doubting his wife's claims. But on Tuesday, he maintained that he thought his wife was being sexually assaulted.

"When I heard my wife scream rape and I saw [LaSalle] trying to drive off from the scene, I had no choice but to do what I did," Darrell Roberson said. "If I had to do it over, I'd do it again."

When asked if he wishes he hadn't had a gun that night, Darrell Roberson said, "I wish a lot of things wouldn't have happened that night."

Davis has filed an appeal of Tracy Roberson's sentence. She must serve 2 1/2 years before she is eligible for parole.

Darrell Roberson said he wishes he could take his wife's place in jail.

"I'm a man," Roberson said, "and as a man you hate to see your wife hurt."

Tracy Roberson testified while her husband was outside the courtroom that she was intimate on two occasions with LaSalle. Darrell Roberson told prosecutors he didn't want details.

"I was already devastated over the situation," Darrell Roberson said. "I didn't want any new information brought to me."

Darrell Roberson said his wife has considered ending her life.

"Tracy has regretted this from day one," he said. "She told me she has contemplated suicide and I told her 'no.' That would kill me."

He said he told her, "You made a mistake and I forgive you. God forgives you, now let's move on."

The Robersons now live in Frisco.

Staff writer Melody McDonald contributed to this report.