Fresno Man Sentenced to 32 Years for Killing William Carney, Says He Would Do It Again

POLICY WIRE — Fresno, California, USA — The family of William Carney has finally seen legal consequences for his death after a long wait that lasted over three years. On Thursday, the court handed down a sentence of 32 years in state prison to Damien Murphy, marking a somber conclusion to the case.

Murphy is accused of shooting Carney in the Central Fresno area back in October 2023. In September of the following year, the defendant entered a plea of no contest to voluntary manslaughter. This legal maneuver allowed him to avoid a conviction for first-degree murder and resulted in a reduced potential sentence.

More than a dozen relatives and close friends gathered in the courtroom to observe the finality of the verdict. For many, the proceedings served as a painful but necessary bookend to a three-year ordeal of grief and legal uncertainty.

Essence, the daughter of the victim, expressed the profound loss her father’s death has caused. She noted to the court, It was like all my dreams died at once.

She also detailed the specific future moments her father would miss, stating, My dad will not ever see me on prom day. He can never walk me down the aisle on my wedding day and cry, seeing how much I’ve grown.

The victim’s mother also addressed the court, describing how her life has fundamentally changed. She said, “My life simply no longer holds the happiness it once had. The joy that used to come naturally has been replaced by grief.”

William Carney is survived by five children. According to his family, he was just under a month away from celebrating his 40th birthday at the time of his death.

Adam, a childhood friend of Carney, chose to speak directly to the man who killed his friend. He told Murphy, I cannot hate you because I know you’re suffering more than he is, and that brings me peace of mind.

Throughout more than 20 minutes of emotional statements from the victim’s loved ones, Murphy displayed no visible emotional reaction. He remained stoic even as the judge outlined the severity of the crime.

The judge directed a parting message to the defendant, saying, I hope every second of your 32 years, you think about William and his family and the damage you’ve caused.

When given the opportunity to address the court and the bereaved family, Murphy did not express any remorse. Instead, he offered a blunt justification for his actions.

“I would apologize, but I’m not going to apologize for protecting my family. I’d do it a million times,” Murphy declared.

This justification prompted a sharp response from the judge, who urged the defendant to reconsider his stance. “I hope you change your mind and have some remorse for your actions, and do not be disrespectful to the people you murdered and hurt their families,” the judge stated.

The court denied Murphy any possibility of probation. He has been ordered to return to the courthouse in December for a scheduled restitution hearing.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)