McGillvary killed Joseph Galfy on May 13, 2013. McGillvary said that he murdered the lawyer in self-defense after he woke up to Galfy sexually assaulting him.
“This was a brutal, vicious, senseless crime, and we are pleased that the interests of justice have been served,” Monahan said in a statement. “We sincerely thank the jury for their service and hope that today’s verdict brings some measure of solace to Mr. Galfy’s family, friends, and loved ones.”
During the sentencing, state Superior Court Judge Robert Kirsch said he handed down the lengthy sentence because McGillvary was likely to commit additional crimes if released, noting his transient lifestyle.
James Galfy, brother to the victim, read a statement to the court and talked about losing his sibling.
“We all lost someone we can depend on,” he said, noting his daughters enjoyed crabbing with his brother and that Joseph Galfy gave them crucial legal advice.
McGillvary defended himself, telling the court he had met "tens of thousands of people" while traveling and no others had accused him of hurting them.
“The hundreds of people I’ve stayed with ... now question ‘Why didn’t Kai hurt us?’ because this trial didn’t answer those questions, but my character does,” McGillvary said. “My character for helping people is why people were safe with me.”
According to testimony at the trial, the hitchhiker met Galfy in Times Square and the lawyer invited him to sleep at his house. McGillvary did so and after visiting a friend, went back to the house to stay again. The murder took place on May 12.
Galfy was found dead in his bedroom during a wellness check the next day and McGillvary was arrested at a Greyhound bus stop in Philadelphia on May 16. He had fled Galfy’s house and cut his long hair.”
McGillvary became an Internet sensation in February 2013 when he told a local television station that he saved two people while hitchhiking in Fresno, California, by smashing their attacker in the back of the head with a hatchet.
He said the viral interview had a positive impact on his life.
“Yeah, it’s been really excellent, I’ve met a lot of cool people who have been reaching out through the internet, mostly contacting me through Facebook, there is about 10,000 messages in my inbox from people all across the country. There’s people from eco-communities, there’s people from surfing communities, there’s people from Rainbow Gatherings, who just got classified as a gang by the Obama administration, who have invited me to come and meet with them,” he said.
“I’ve largely succeeded in any effort to hide myself. I disappeared inside the Emerald Triangle for a couple weeks even."