20
2010
William Barnes on Trial for the Murder of a Philadelphia Police Officer
Posted by Vis Legis
Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney Bridget Kirn is in court attempting to convict a 74-year-old man for the murder of Philadelphia police officer who he shot 41 years ago. The defendant, William Barnes has already been convicted of attempted murder for the same shooting. Barnes served 16 years in prison for shooting the then police rookie, Walter Barclay, on November 27, 1966, during a failed burglary attempt in East Oak Lane.
However, Officer Barclay who would be 67, died of an urinary-tract infection on August 19, 2007. According to a Bucks County medical examiner, the infection was linked to the injuries Barclay sustained four decades ago. According to Assistant DA Kirn, Barclay’s 1966 gunshot led to a “slow, miserable march toward death.”
The defendant is represented by Samuel W. Silver, a Philadelphia trial attorney and partner at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis. Silver LLP, maintains his client’s innocence and alleges that it is impossible to conclude Barclay’s death was a result of the 1966 shooting due to three car accidents and two wheelchair falls the officer was involved in after the shooting.
