NJ Teen Convicted of Murder

An 18-year-old was convicted Thursday of fatally stabbing a former high school football teammate at a keg party nearly two years ago. A Gloucester County jury deliberated more than three hours before finding William "Billy" Corsey IV guilty of first-degree murder and two weapons charges.

Judge Joseph Testa revoked Corsey's $1 million bail and said Corsey would be sentenced in about a month. Assistant Prosecutor Audrey Curwin said she would seek more than the minimum 30-year prison sentence.

The jury found that Corsey killed 18-year-old Christopher Bensinger at an Oct. 20, 2000, keg party in Woodbury.

Prosecutors said Corsey wanted revenge on behalf of his father, former Deptford High School track coach William W. Corsey III, whom Bensinger's girlfriend had accused of molesting her.

The elder Corsey pleaded guilty in February to sex charges and is now serving an eight-year prison sentence.

The younger Corsey's trial featured testimony from teens who were at the party where the two Deptford men clashed.

Corsey's lawyer, Ronald Thompson, had argued that his client was acting in self-defense – and that he did not deliver the fatal stab to Bensinger's heart.

Thompson said he planned to appeal the case.

"I don't see how there's adequate evidence to support a conviction," he told the Courier-Post of Cherry Hill. "There are witnesses who lied in this case, committed perjury."

Thompson said Corsey was disappointed with the verdict, but had no second thoughts about rejecting a plea bargain last month.

"His position is he didn't commit the crime," he said.

Bensinger's brother, Louis, 24, said justice was served, but the verdict didn't make up for what happened.

"I'm glad for the outcome of the trial but I wish more could be done, like if we lived in Texas," he said as he left the Gloucester County courthouse.

Article continues below

---

advertisement

---

Author: 6 ABC-AP