5 years, 9 months ago by Scott Hardy
Was set to go on trial Monday
A Quincy man, held for over two and a half years while awaiting trial on a 2015 murder charge, has pleaded Guilty and been handed a long prison sentence.
Derek McKenzie was in Adams County Circuit Court Friday, a week after waiving his right to a jury, and was sentenced to 25 years in prison. Under terms of the sentencing, McKenzie will have to serve the full term, but he will have access to mental health treatment. McKenzie was due to go on trial starting Monday, but at a hearing last week, he decided to take a prosecution settlement. McKenzie's pleaded Guilty to one of two counts of 1st Degree Murder. In return, that second murder count was dropped. McKenzie admitted beating Billy Graham to death with his fists, and a clamp, in an apartment above a Quincy bar in December 2015.
He'd been in the Adams County Jail since his arrest the day of the murder, and will get credit for serving over 900 days while awaiting trial.
