Witness Testimony and Legal Proceedings in the Case of Gregory Grant Hobson
During the ongoing trial in Solano County Superior Court, Gregory Grant Hobson took the witness stand in his own defense. The 64-year-old defendant, accused of killing his wife, Anu Anand Hobson, on February 14, 2023, admitted during direct questioning by his attorney that he was responsible for her death. This admission came early in his three-hour testimony before Judge Janice M. Williams.
Hobson, who appeared exhausted and pale in a charcoal-gray suit, answered questions clearly and without hesitation. His attorney, Chief Deputy Public Defender Oscar Bobrow, began by reviewing Hobson’s background, including his birthplace, college education, marriage to Anu, and career at Chevron Corp. The couple moved to the Bay Area in 1999, where Hobson eventually retired due to heart problems.
Hobson described his relationship with Anu as good between 2020 and 2021, but he later suspected she was having an affair. He claimed to have followed her one night to confirm his suspicions. During a family trip to Sacramento to buy a car for their daughter, Sara, and a walk in Vacaville with his son, Sean, Hobson said he expressed frustration about his marital situation. He told Sean he wanted a divorce and believed his wife was trying to poison him.
On February 14, Hobson and Anu had an argument in their home. He claimed he lost his balance while descending the stairs, fell, and hit his tailbone. Feeling "out of my mind with rage," he returned to the second-floor office, grabbed Anu by the hood of her sweatshirt, and pinned her to the floor. During the struggle, Anu made noises and attempted to push him off, but she eventually went limp. Hobson noticed blood on the floor and tried to revive her, but did not call 911 because he was scared of going to prison.
Instead, he placed her body in a sleeping bag, dragged it to the garage, and struggled to lift it into his truck. He later purchased a hydraulic lift from Harbor Freight and adjusted surveillance cameras in the home. Hobson then drove to rural Fresno County, where he burned the body in a field. He also used an ATM in Cambria, where he believed law enforcement was looking for him.
Upon returning to Fairfield, Hobson was arrested. When asked if he ever wanted to kill his wife, he responded, "I didn’t want to kill her." He expressed deep remorse, stating he would carry the shame of his actions for the rest of his life.
On cross-examination, prosecutor Bruce Flynn questioned Hobson about his wife’s alleged infidelity and the possibility that she had already signed divorce papers. Hobson denied trying to hide evidence, though he admitted burning the body to make identification more difficult. He also confirmed throwing both his and Anu’s cellphones into a river.
Hobson maintained that none of the events were premeditated and that he never intended to kill his wife. Both the prosecution and defense concluded their cases, with closing arguments scheduled for the following Tuesday. If convicted of first-degree murder, Hobson could face 25 years to life in prison.
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