Athol man pleads guilty to attempted murder, sentenced to 6-8 years in prison

Date: 6/17/2019

Timothy Murphy, of Athol, pleaded guilty to the following counts in Franklin County Superior Court, June 17, 2019: (1) Home Invasion, (2) Home Invasion, (3) Attempt to Commit Murder, (4) Attempt to Commit Murder, (5) Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Victim Over Sixty (6) Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon, Victim Over Sixty, and (7) Vandalize Property.

The charges arose from a June 2018 incident where the defendant broke into a home armed with a  knife and slashed two victims across their necks. The victims were both over 60 years old on the date of offense.

The Commonwealth requested a sentence of 8 to 10 years in state prison. The defense requested a sentence of 2 to 3 years in state prison. Both parties requested the defendant be supervised for 3 years upon his release.

After argument, including an impact statement by the victims, the court sentenced the defendant to not less than 6 years, not more than 8 years in state prison.