PHILADELPHIA — A 74-year-old man who shot a Philadelphia police officer in 1966 was acquitted Monday of murder and other charges filed after the officer’s death in 2007. The jury reached its verdict after beginning deliberations late Friday afternoon after the weeklong murder trial of William J. Barnes, who served 16 years for the attempted murder of Officer Walter T. Barclay during a botched burglary.
The jury had to determine whether the shooting that left the young officer paralyzed from the waist down was the direct cause of his death 41 years later. Assistant District Attorney Edward Cameron said the officer had experienced accidents and illnesses that were caused by the paralysis that Barnes inflicted on him. Defense attorney Samuel Silver argued that Barclay’s paralysis was not to blame for his injuries in several car accidents and falls between the November 1966 shooting and his death in August 2007 of a urinary tract infection.
When the verdict was announced, Barnes put his hand to his head, covered his eyes and wept. Barnes’ niece, Diane Barnes, exclaimed “Yes!” As the jury left the room, William Barnes said, “Thank you, all.”
After the verdict, District Attorney Seth Williams reiterated prosecutors’ contention that Barnes was responsible for the officer’s death. “The bullet may not have immediately killed him, but it definitely took away his life,” Williams said in a statement. He praised the work of the prosecutors, saying the case was a difficult case to prosecute “both technically and emotionally.”
Silver said it was unclear when his client would be released because he had parole violations at the time of his arrest in 2007. “My brother’s been through enough,” said Barnes’ brother, Jimmy. “He shouldn’t have even been on trial.”