No jury trial for handyman accused of stabbing employer to death

SUSSEX COUNTY -- The Stanhope handyman accused of stabbing a woman to death in 2012 won't put his defense before a jury -- but has instead opted for a bench trial, the New Jersey Herald reports.

Gregg Murphy earlier this month rejected rejected a plea deal for 30 years and will instead opt to go to trial.

As previously reported by the Star-Ledger, Murphy is charged with killing Mariann Ferreira, 56, on Dec. 3, 2012, by repeatedly stabbing her in her home in rural Green Township. Law enforcement officials have said Murphy admitted killing Ferreira, but could not provide any reason.

According to the Herad, Murphy told a judge Thursday he understood his choice meant his fate would be decided by just one person -- a judge. He said he wasn't coerced into the choice, and that he understood the charges against him, according to the report.

Prior to retiring in January of 2012, Ferreira worked for the Morris County Division of Aging, Disability and Veterans, helping people find assisted-living facilities for themselves and loved ones.

Ferreira's son told the Star-Ledger in 2013 Murphy had often done work at Ferreira 's house. He'd recently uilt a deck on one side of her home. urphy did high-quality work and his prices were fair, which worked well for Ferreira, as she didn't have much money, her son said.

She felt bad for him and she wanted to help him out. She kept giving him work" and trusted him, Jared Ferreira said at the time.

"He admitted stabbing the victim multiple times with the purpose of killing her. He acknowledged he had no justification and couldnt say why he did it," First Assistant Prosecutor Gregory Mueller told Superior Court Judge N. Peter Conforti shortly after the arrest, during Murphys first appearance in Superior Court.

Murphy remains in the Sussex county Jail in lieu of $750,000 bail

Louis C. Hochman may be reached at lhochman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LouisCHochman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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No jury trial for handyman accused of stabbing employer to death