Dad gets life sentence for stabbing death of mom; stabbing took place in front of 6-year-old son (Reidsville, North Carolina)

Dad BERESFORD ALLEN CAMPBELL has been sentenced to life in prison for the utterly horrible stabbing death of his common-law wife--which took place in front of their 6-year-old son. The little boy continues to suffer from nightmares and traumatic memories, yet Daddy stands up in court and has the freaking nerve to tell him how much he really loves him. Seriously, this kind of sh** makes me want to barf.

http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20100927/ARTICLES/100929904/1005

Man receives life sentence in brutal stabbing death

By Steve Huffman
The Dispatch

Published: Monday, September 27, 2010 at 6:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Monday, September 27, 2010 at 6:11 p.m.

A Reidsville man was sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole Monday after pleading guilty to the brutal murder of his common-law wife.

Beresford Allen Campbell, 54, pleaded guilty to killing Beverly Wiley, 48, in an attack that started inside a moving car on Old U.S. Highway 52 in northern Davidson County on the morning of May 30. The couple's 6-year-old son, Joshua, was in the back seat of the vehicle that his mother was driving. Campbell was in the front passenger seat.

The child witnessed his mother first being stabbed, then watched as Campbell slammed the woman's head onto the ground after she'd managed to stop the car and crawl out. Prosecutors said witnesses told them the boy screamed, “Don't kill her!” as the assault continued.

Assistant District Attorney Greg Brown read from an autopsy report that stated Wiley had been slashed numerous times, suffering cuts to her face, throat and chest. Her right jugular vein and trachea were perforated, Brown said, and she suffered numerous cuts to her hands as she tried to defend herself.

Brown told Superior Court Judge Kevin M. Bridges the killing had at least one aggravating factor — that it was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel.

“We're still quite a ways from closure,” said Quentin Smith, a family member who read a letter to the court written by Beverly's mother, Edith Wiley. He spoke about what a wonderful woman and mother Beverly Wiley was.

“It's a start,” Smith continued, speaking of family members coming to grips with the loss of their loved one.

Prosecutors said that by pleading guilty to first-degree non-capital murder, Campbell avoided the possibility of a death sentence that might have come in a capital murder case. Campbell, handcuffed and shackled and wearing an orange jail jumpsuit, wept when asked if wished to speak, then quietly read statements he'd written to both his son and the Wiley family.

Joshua was not in the courtroom, and at least one family member walked out when Campbell was given the chance to speak.

In his address to his son, Campbell referred to the morning of the attack when “demons came into my life.

“I hope I can be forgiven,” Campbell said. “If I can't, I understand. Remember, Josh, I still love you and always will.”

To the Wiley family — about 20 members of whom were in the courtroom — Campbell said, “No words I can say can alleviate the pain I caused.

“I wish that day had never existed. I still don't know why this happened.”

Members of Wiley's family described to the court a loving woman who helped countless others. Kim Wiley, Beverly's sister, read a letter written by her daughter, Brooke, who was Beverly's niece.

“My aunt, mother and best friend is no longer there for me,” Brooke wrote.

Kim Wiley also read a note from Sierra Wiley, another of Beverly's nieces.

“She was more than an aunt, she was a role model,” Sierra wrote. “She never judged me, but always loved me.”

Sierra wrote, “The crime was selfish and affected numerous people. I have never seen my grandfather sad or shed a tear until that day.”

A letter from Joshua's therapist was also read during the proceedings. The therapist said the child suffers symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome and is affected by nightmares caused by seeing his father kill his mother.

“He's fortunate to have a loving and extremely supportive immediate family,” the therapist wrote. “The impact of seeing his father kill his mother will continue to impact him.”

In addressing the court, Quentin Smith said Beverly was “totally devoted to Joshua.”

He said the family worked not to harbor bitterness over the killing.

“It's more important we have her spirit with us every day,” Smith said.

Bridges thanked members of Wiley's family for addressing the court.

“We certainly can't console you with anything we do here,” the judge said.

Campbell was represented by Winston-Salem attorney J. Darren Byers. In addition to being sentenced to life in prison, Campbell was ordered to pay $11,195 in restitution. Of that amount, $6,000 goes to Beverly Wiley's mother to pay the expense of her daughter's funeral. Another $5,000 is to go to a victim's compensation fund and the remaining $195 to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem where Wiley was taken after the attack.

Steve Huffman can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or steve.huffman@the-dispatch.com.