Judge imposes life sentence after jury convicts Keith Hamel of murder

A judge sentenced an Athol man to life in prison Wednesday, shortly after a jury convicted him of murder and numerous other criminal charges in connection with the 2019 murder of Kelsey Clifford. The verdict and sentencing followed the seven-day trial of Keith D. Hamel in Franklin Superior Court.

Hamel, 25, was sentenced by Franklin Superior Court Judge John Agostini to the mandatory life in prison without parole on the first-degree murder conviction connected to his killing of Clifford, 26, of Leominster with a hammer at 3:30 a.m. Nov. 11.

Hamel’s trial, prosecuted by Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Jeremy Bucci, chief trial counsel and Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber, began on Aug 25 and wrapped up on Sept. 2.  Jurors began deliberating on Friday, Sept. 2, returned to court to continue deliberations Tuesday and then again Wednesday, delivering their verdict around 2 p.m.

Kelsey Clifford’s mother addressed the court to describe the devastation of losing her daughter, who she said was a daughter, a mother and a niece, in such a brutal manner. Assistant District Attorney Joseph Webber read a statement that had been written by Kelsey Clifford’s father and her godfather addressed Judge Agostini as well.

After hearing from members of Kelsey Clifford’s family, before imposing the sentence, Judge Agostini said he’d never seen a case that involved such viciousness.

“This was simply incomprehensible. This was as despicable and as violent a conduct as I’ve ever seen inflicted,” he said. “I can only hop that the Clifford family can move on.”

Agostini sentenced Hamel to 8-10 years on two charges of misleading a police officer and 8-10 years on charges of tampering with evidence, and four counts of withholding evidence. Some of those sentences are concurrent with the murder sentence and some are consecutive.

First degree murder convictions in Massachusetts are automatically appealed.