PERKIOMEN TWP., Pa. — A Montgomery County man accused of fatally beating his girlfriend with a hammer will pursue a voluntary intoxication defense in his upcoming murder trial.
According to a report by The Mercury, William Roy Carey Jr., 47, of Gravel Pike, intends to argue that he was under the influence of drugs at the time of the killing, hoping to reduce the degree of homicide he faces.
Carey is charged with first- and third-degree murder in the November 1, 2024, death of 34-year-old Jessica Zipkin. During a pretrial hearing Friday before Judge Wendy G. Rothstein, Carey confirmed he wanted his attorneys to introduce evidence of intoxication to challenge prosecutors’ claims that he had a specific intent to kill.
Deputy District Attorney Kelly S. Lloyd and Assistant District Attorney Christian Taffe are pursuing a first-degree murder conviction, which carries a mandatory life sentence.
Judge Rothstein also ruled that jurors will be permitted to view photographs and video of the crime scene, along with select autopsy images, rejecting defense arguments that the evidence was too inflammatory, according to The Mercury.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on September 9, with the trial expected to last four days. Carey remains held without bail at Montgomery County jail.
Incident Background
On November 2, 2024, at around 1:25 a.m., Pennsylvania State Police responded to Carey’s apartment at 534 Gravel Pike for a report of a possible death, according to the criminal complaint.
Troopers discovered Zipkin face down on the bedroom floor with a fatal head wound. A bloodied red hammer was located near her body.
Authorities allege Carey killed Zipkin during an argument.
Stay with FirstSourceNews.net for trial updates.
