Burlington City Man Indicted on Murder Charge
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Defendant is accused of fatally stabbing his stepfather
Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina announced that a 43-year-old man was indicted yesterday on murder and other charges for stabbing his stepfather to death this summer inside his residence in the 100 block of East Broad Street in Burlington City.
Stephen J. Paul was indicted on one count of Murder (First Degree), Possession of a Weapon for an Unlawful Purpose (Third Degree) and Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (Fourth Degree).
The indictment was returned yesterday and was signed by Prosecutor Coffina.
An arraignment will be scheduled soon in Superior Court. The defendant has been detained in the Burlington County Jail since his arrest on August 1, 2017, which was the day of the crime.
The investigation began after police were called to Paul’s apartment at approximately 2:30 p.m. by a relative who suspected the victim was inside, but was denied access to the residence by Paul.
Burlington City Police entered the apartment with Paul’s permission and discovered the body of Edward Williams, 70, with lacerations to his upper body. Williams, a Westampton resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. The knife believed to be used in the attack was discovered inside the residence. Paul was taken into custody without incident.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant Prosecutor Bob VanGilst, supervisor of the BCPO Major Crimes Unit.
The investigation was conducted by the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office and the Burlington City Police Department, with assistance from the Westampton Township Police Department. The lead investigators were BCPO Detective Timothy Van Fossen and Burlington City Police Detective Robert O’Brien.
An indictment is merely an accusation. Defendants are presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.