Bucks Man Gets Prison Sentence in New Year's Even Stabbing Murder of Uncle
By Jim Melwert
DOYLESTOWN, Pa. (CBS) -- A 25-year-old Langhorne, Pa. man was sentenced today to spend up to a quarter-century behind bars for the murder of his uncle this past New Year's Eve.
Kyle Simpson admitted in Bucks County Court to being upset at another family member but instead killing the man who was acting as peacemaker.
Simpson was sentenced today to 13-26 years in state prison after pleading guilty to third-degree murder.
He said he was upset after an earlier family argument, drunk, and sharpening a knife from his collection when his uncle, Stanley "Ernie" Taylor, who was not involved in the earlier argument, tried to calm him down. That's when Simpson stabbed his uncle once in the abdomen.
"It did seem to be the perfect tragic storm that New Year's Eve," said prosecutor Michele Walsh today. "No history of having a drinking problem, no prior criminal history, and things just went horribly wrong."
Simpson wiped his eyes as Walsh read a statement from his aunt, the widow of the man he stabbed. She said, "While I cannot forgive you for what you've done, I want you to know I still love you."