Jury convicts ‘Kai The Hitchhiker’ of first-degree murder

A Union County jury has convicted the man known as “Kai The Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker” of first-degree murder in the death of a New Jersey attorney.

News 12 Staff

Apr 24, 2019, 6:42 PM

Updated 1,834 days ago

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Jury convicts ‘Kai The Hitchhiker’ of first-degree murder
A Union County jury has convicted the man known as “Kai The Hatchet-Wielding Hitchhiker” of first-degree murder in the death of a New Jersey attorney.
Kai, whose real name is Caleb McGillvary, was on trial for the 2013 murder of Clark attorney Joseph Galfy.
Prosecutors say that Galfy and McGillvary met each other in New York City and that Galfy invited McGillvary to stay at his home for a time.
Galfy was later found beaten to death inside his home. McGillvary was arrested a few days later in Philadelphia.
McGillvary claims he woke up with Galfy's half-naked body on top of him, and says Galfy drugged and sexually assaulted him. He says Galfy's death was in self-defense.
McGillvary gained internet-fame prior to the killing due to an interview he gave with a California news station in which he described using a hatchet to fend off an attack on a utility worker. The interview went viral and has garnered over 7 million views on YouTube.
McGillvary faces life in prison when he is sentenced on June 13.


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