“Kai the Hitchhiker,” who rose to viral internet fame after a bizarre television interview in 2013, was convicted Wednesday in the beating death of a prominent 73-year-old New Jersey lawyer at his Union County home six years ago.
The jury found Caleb ‘Kai’ McGillvary, 30, guilty of first-degree murder a day after they began deliberating the testimony in the three week trial. He faces up to life in prison and will be sentenced June 13.
McGillvary was accused of killing Joseph Galfy on May 13, 2013 after their encounter turned violent. The Alberta, Canada-native claimed he acted in self defense after waking up to Galfy allegedly sexually assaulting him.
“This was a brutal, vicious, senseless crime, and we are pleased that the interests of justice have been served,” acting Union County Prosecutor Michael Monahan said. “We sincerely thank the jury for their service and hope that today’s verdict brings some measure of solace to Mr. Galfy’s family, friends, and loved ones.”
The contentious trial at the Union County Courthouse nearly ended in McGillvary being thrown out of the courtroom after he had an outburst following his lawyer’s closing arguments.
John Cito, McGillvary’s defense attorney, cast his client as a young man with a “home-free lifestyle” who always looked for the best in people. Cito argued police failed to properly investigate the killing and did not pursue evidence that would have proved the sexual assault occurred.
McGillvary became an internet celebrity in February 2013 when he gave a local TV station an off-kilter interview about saving two people while hitchhiking in Fresno, California. In the now-viral interview, an animated “Kai” explained how he smashed the attacker in the back of the head with a hatchet.
McGillvary testified at the trial, though it became combative while he was cross-examined by Assistant Prosecutor Scott Peterson. The two often raised their voices and talked over each other, forcing Judge Robert Kirsch to call order to the courtroom and remind McGillvary several times not to speak out of turn or add irrelevant information.
McGillvary pushed back, arguing he was treated worse than other witnesses and his Sixth Amendment right was being infringed.
Assistant prosecutors Jillian Reyes and Peterson said Galfy’s brutal injuries — three skull fractures, four broken ribs and severe contusions — showed this was “so far from self defense, it’s not even funny.”
One of the prosecution’s star witnesses, Junaid Shaikh of the Division of the County Medical Examiner, testified Galfy sustained serious blunt-force injuries to his face, neck, chest and arms, which he said are inconsistent with self defense.
The prosecution also pointed to inconsistencies between McGillvary’s original statement when he was arrested in 2013 and his testimony.
After the chance meeting in Times Square, Galfy invited McGillvary to come sleep at his home, and the hitchhiker took the offer. He testified that when he woke up on May 12, 2013, he had bodily fluids on his face that tasted salty.
According to testimony at the trial, Galfy drove McGillvary to the Rahway train station on May 12, and the hitchhiker took the train to Asbury to meet with a friend. Needing a place to stay again, he stayed in the guest room of Galfy’s Clark home.
Galfy poured McGillvary a beer, and the 30-year-old said he blacked out after that. When he woke up, his pants were down and Galfy was “grinding and humping” him, McGillvary testified.
Caleb 'Kai the Hitchhiker' McGillvary and his lawyer John Cito listen as Judge Robert Kirsh addresses the court Tuesday morning before closing arguments.
McGillvary said he hit the lawyer and ran away. Galfy was found dead in his bedroom, facedown in his underwear and socks, during a wellness check on May 13, 2013.
At that point, prosecutors said McGillvary had fled to Philadelphia, cut his hair and changed his clothes. He was arrested at a Greyhound bus stop in the city on May 16 and had been awaiting trial in Union County jail ever since.
Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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