BAKERSFIELD, CA -- A man found guilty of shooting and killing his father at their northwest Bakersfield home, was sentenced Tuesday morning.
Last month, 33-year-old Geoff Murphy was convicted of murder, with a firearm enhancement, and making criminal threats and elder abuse. He was sentenced Tuesday to two 25-years-to-life sentences, along with an additional 3 years-8-months sentence.
Officers say Murphy shot and killed his elderly father, 74-year-old James Patrick Murphy on August 10 last year at their home on Artist Court. Murphy's mother who spoke in court Tuesday morning, told officers her son suffered from mental illness and was living with them. She said she and her husband had tried to get him help, but instead it resulted in her husband's death.
She says on August tenth her son began screaming at her and struck her several times with a barbecue lighter before her husband intervened with a gun. Officers say Geoff Murphy wrestled the gun away from his father and fatally shot him in the back of the head. "This tragedy began on August tenth, actually in the days and weeks leading up to August tenth, and it continues today. I think they were satisfied with the verdict and I think they are happy that the matter is at least resolved criminally. It isn't resolved emotionally for anyone involved," says deputy district attorney David Zulfa.
Court documents also show Murphy's mother found files and documents on her computer that suggest her son had been researching inheritance laws and information pertaining to how to burn a residence.
Last month, 33-year-old Geoff Murphy was convicted of murder, with a firearm enhancement, and making criminal threats and elder abuse. He was sentenced Tuesday to two 25-years-to-life sentences, along with an additional 3 years-8-months sentence.
Officers say Murphy shot and killed his elderly father, 74-year-old James Patrick Murphy on August 10 last year at their home on Artist Court. Murphy's mother who spoke in court Tuesday morning, told officers her son suffered from mental illness and was living with them. She said she and her husband had tried to get him help, but instead it resulted in her husband's death.
She says on August tenth her son began screaming at her and struck her several times with a barbecue lighter before her husband intervened with a gun. Officers say Geoff Murphy wrestled the gun away from his father and fatally shot him in the back of the head. "This tragedy began on August tenth, actually in the days and weeks leading up to August tenth, and it continues today. I think they were satisfied with the verdict and I think they are happy that the matter is at least resolved criminally. It isn't resolved emotionally for anyone involved," says deputy district attorney David Zulfa.
Court documents also show Murphy's mother found files and documents on her computer that suggest her son had been researching inheritance laws and information pertaining to how to burn a residence.